Heads up regarding this exciting opportunity: It comes from COST Action FA1305 ‘EU Aquaponics Hub’ which Bristol Fish Project is part of. The action unites a heterogeneous group of scientists, researchers and SMEs from across the EU and around the globe to better understand the state of knowledge in aquaponics in Europe and around the world and to facilitate innovation and education in this field of sustainable fish and vegetal food production…

POLYPONIC – evaluation of multiple fish species production in combination with hydroponics (aquaponic-polyculture) in the FishGlassHouse

The FishGlassHouse is a recently established, state-of-the art coupled aquaponic system located on the campus at University of Rostock (UoR, Germany) within the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AUF). The Aquaculture unit within AUF consists of three different fish rearing units developed for different stocking densities (extensive, semi-intensive, intensive) of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The nutrient enriched water flows from each aquaculture unit to a total of six hydroponic plant green houses and is then pumped back to the different fish units. Plants are cultured on ebb-and-flood commercial planting tables inside the hydroponic cabins and a wide range of plants can be grown including culinary herbs and vegetables as well as ornamental plants.

Vostock is looking for a PhD student or early career postdoctoral researcher (less than 8 years since the award of the PhD) from biology, aquaculture, aquaponics or greenhouse plant cultivation (or comparable), who is motivated to assist in research in one of the most modern aquaponic facilities in Europe. The successful applicant will work with our researchers on a current research project of aquaponic-polyculture (POLYPONIC) with Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) and African catfish (C. gariepinus) in combination with basil (O. basilicum) to test the effects of multiple fish species fish production on plant growth.

The Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) will be for the duration of 6 weeks in March and April 2016. The candidate should have good skills in laboratory work, aquaculture and/or aquaponic culture techniques. The applicant will be hosted by the Department of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, UoR, Germany. A maximum fixed grant of €2500 will be awarded to the successful candidate as a contribution towards the cost of travel, board and lodging. This is based on an allowance of €15/day for food and €38/night for accommodation.

Accommodation will be arranged by the department of Aquaculture & Sea-Ranching. The contribution towards travel costs will depend on the country of provenance of the successful applicant.

The grant will be paid after the successful completion of the STSM. Applicants must be affiliated to an institution located in a COST country participating in this Action: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom. According to COST regulations, STSMs are intended to facilitate scientists going to an institution or laboratory in another country; applicants from institutions in Germany are therefore ineligible. The nationality of the candidate is not a bar to eligibility.

Applicants should send the following documents to Professor H.W. Palm, Department of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching (University of Rostock) harry.palm@uni-rostock.de by 31st January 2016.

●CV (max 2 pages)

● Letter of motivation

● List of publications

For informal enquiries contact: ulrich.knaus@uni-rostock.de