PhD Position (M/F) Integrated planning of marine protected areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the south-western Indian Ocean (SWIOMPA)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Integrated planning of marine protected areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the south-western Indian Ocean (SWIOMPA)

Context and scientific background
The South-Western Indian Ocean (SWIO) is a global biodiversity hotspot characterized by highly diverse and interconnected marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and seamounts, and hosting numerous threatened and migratory species. These ecosystems support essential ecosystem services, particularly artisanal fisheries that are critical for food security and local livelihoods.
However, the region is facing increasing anthropogenic pressures such as climate change and overfishing. In this context, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are recognized as a key tool to achieve the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including the 30×30 target. Yet, their effectiveness depends on the ability to account for complex social-ecological interactions, ecological connectivity, and trade-offs among competing uses, especially in transboundary contexts.
This PhD project is embedded in the BRIDGES program and aims to advance conservation planning approaches by integrating biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human activities into a coherent spatial framework to improve the sustainability of marine socio-ecosystems. It builds on recent developments in multi-objective optimization and social-ecological research to support operational and policy-relevant marine spatial planning.

Objectives of the PhD project
The overarching objective of this PhD is to develop and apply an interdisciplinary framework for the spatial prioritization of MPAs in the SWIO region, integrating social-ecological dimensions.

The project will specifically aim to:
• Identify critical areas for marine biodiversity, focusing on endemic and threatened species
• Characterize spatial patterns of a key ecosystem service in the region, namely artisanal fisheries, and other ecosystem services to be defined, while accounting for human pressures
• Identify key areas ensuring connectivity among habitats such as coral reefs and seamounts
• Define priority areas for conservation planning by optimizing trade-offs between biodiversity, ecosystem services, and connectivity.

Methodology and expected activities
The PhD candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of a transdisciplinary approach combining data science, socio-ecology, marine science, and stakeholder engagement. These activities will be carried out in close collaboration with experts from the different thematic areas involved in the project, ensuring strong methodological support across all components.

The main activities will include:
• Compilation and processing of multidisciplinary social-ecological data, including biodiversity datasets (e.g., threatened and endemic species), habitat data (coral reefs and seamounts), and fishing activity data (e.g., AIS/VMS, surveys)
• Development of spatial indicators related to biodiversity importance (e.g., complementarity, irreplaceability), fishing intensity (using statistical or bioeconomic approaches), and ecological connectivity between habitats (larval dispersal modelling and network analyses)
• Spatial prioritization of MPAs using optimization tools (e.g., Prioritizr, Marxan, Zonation), integrating social-ecological indicators and operational constraints
• Scenario analysis and comparison to evaluate trade-offs among conservation and use objectives
• Collaboration with researchers from relevant disciplines to support the development of the different components of the project
• Co-production with stakeholders, including the organization of workshops and capacity-building activities to ensure relevance and applicability of the results
• Contribution to the development of reproducible workflows, documentation, and code sharing
• Dissemination of results through peer-reviewed publications and international conferences.
Candidate profile
Applicants should hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in one or more of the following fields: environmental sciences or ecology; geomatics or geography; data science, statistics or computer science; applied mathematics; marine sciences.
Interdisciplinary profiles at the interface of these fields are particularly encouraged.
Desired skills:
• Background in data analysis and statistics
• Programming skills in Python or R (or equivalent)
• Experience with GIS or spatial analysis tools (QGIS or ArcGIS)
• Familiarity with conservation planning tools (Marxan, Zonation, Prioritizr)
• Strong interest in social-ecological systems and interdisciplinary research
• Ability to engage with non-academic stakeholders
• Knowledge of the SWIO region
• Knowledge of marine systems or oceanography
• Good command of English (minimum C1 level); knowledge of French is an asset

Your Work Environment

The PhD candidate will work within the MEOcean and EAU-CLIMAT-SOCIETE teams at the Institute of Environmental Geosciences (IGE), a joint research unit (CNRS, INRAE, IRD, UGA, Grenoble INP) located on the Saint-Martin-d'Hères campus near Grenoble and part of the Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG). The IGE conducts research on climate change in polar, mountain and intertropical regions, which are particularly sensitive and have major societal implications. The laboratory employs an average of 330 people, including 190 permanent members (researchers, faculty members, engineers, technicians and administrative staff) and around 140 PhD students, postdocs and staff on fixed-term contracts. Each year, the laboratory welcomes around 120 interns and visiting scientists. The IGE is housed in four buildings on the Grenoble university campus (glaciology building, OSUG-B, Maison Climat Planète and INRAE-Grenoble Saint Martin d'Hères).
The PhD project will be jointly supervised by Ignacio Palomo, Pierre Brasseur, and Hugo Deléglise, all based at IGE. The project is part of the BRIDGES programme, providing access to a large international network of researchers, datasets, and modelling tools. It also fosters targeted interactions with researchers and local stakeholders in the SWIO region. The PhD will involve international mobility, including approximately four to five research stays (1 to 3 months each) in the SWIO region. These missions will support collaboration with regional partners and participation in stakeholder workshops, which are a key component of the project. The candidate will benefit from advanced computing resources and training opportunities, as well as close supervision by an interdisciplinary supervisory team.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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