Deadline for applications: 2 July 2026.
The Mediterranean Institute of Oceanology is recruiting a PhD student for the BIOMAR project (Impacts of trophic changes on the biology of fish caught off the coast of Marseille). This PhD will be co-supervised by Daniela Banaru and Thomas Changeux.
Subject: Impacts of trophic changes on the biology of fish caught off the coast of Marseille (BIOMAR)
Research background
For several decades, the north-western Mediterranean has been undergoing a process of re-oligotrophisation, which is profoundly altering marine food webs. This thesis aims to understand how these changes affect the feeding, growth, reproduction and dynamics of the main fish species exploited in the Marseille region.
- Trophic ecology and fish biology
- Stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N)
- Analysis of stomach contents
- Modelling of food webs
- Fieldwork with fishermen and marine protected area managers
- National and international collaborations (MIO, Ifremer, CRIOBE, MARBEC, LPED, IEO-CSIC, etc.)
- Location: Luminy Campus, Marseille
- Duration: 36 months
- Required qualifications: Master’s degree in marine ecology, biological oceanography, marine sciences or an equivalent discipline.
This thesis offers a unique opportunity to contribute to our understanding of the effects of environmental change on Mediterranean marine ecosystems and to the sustainable management of fishery resources.