Jorge Gonçalves

CCMAR – Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve is offering two post-doctoral fellowships within the WELL4CATCH project, focused on advancing animal welfare in fisheries . The positions are based at CCMAR in Faro, Portugal, with work also involving the Algarve coast and other locations needed for field implementation. The call is organized around two complementary research tracks. The first fellowship focuses on fish welfare physiology and experimental validation , including the development and calibration of physiological, behavioural, RAMP and recovery-based welfare indicators; controlled experiments on capture and handling; field experiments in longline, set-net and purse-seine fisheries; and the assessment of stunning, slaughter and post-capture preservation procedures. The second fellowship focuses on behaviour, multimodal welfare assessment and modelling , including behavioural indicators of stress, fatigue, injury and recovery; sensor-based monitoring using force, accelerometer, motion and environmental data; video-based and automated behavioural analysis; multimodal welfare assessment; and statistical/AI-based predictive models, including cross-species welfare models. The scientific supervisors are Professor Jorge Gonçalves , Pedro Guerreiro , Ana Marçalo , and João Saraiva at CCMAR. The selected fellows will contribute to scientific analysis, publications, conference communications, analytical tools, and methodological dissemination. Eligibility requires a PhD in fisheries biology, fish physiology, behavioural ecology, or aquatic animal welfare obtained within the last three years. A valid driving licence is mandatory, and applicants must comply with CCMAR scholarship regulations. The call gives strong preference to candidates with hands-on experience in live fish experimentation, sea-based work, fish stress physiology, quantitative experimental design, publications in fish capture/handling/welfare, RAMP or other vitality indicators, and programming in R and/or Python . The fellowship starts around November 2026 , initially for 12 months and renewable up to a maximum of 36 months . A monthly maintenance allowance of €2,000.00 is provided, paid by bank transfer under an exclusivity regime. Applications must be submitted on the CCMAR website by 27 October 2026, 23:59 (Lisbon time) . Required documents include the doctoral certificate, detailed CV in English, motivation letter in English, driving licence copy, and email contacts of up to three referees.