MEDiverSEAty is a Doctoral Network investigating human dimensions of Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity. The efforts made to conserve Mediterranean biodiversity are still facing the need to ensure a comparable implementation of the existing measures, a path that could be pursued by integrating the human dimension into the integrated study of biodiversity and the related strategies for conservation, as suggested by MEDiverSEAty. Experts in the field of marine sciences do not neglect the relevance (both scientific and social) of these dimensions. Currently, emphasis is on marine citizen sciences, maritime spatial planning, marine heritage, economic values of marine biodiversity. MEDiverSEAty aims at moving international debate a step forward: transfer this multidimensional vision into actions, policies and strategies. 

The lack (or oversimplification), both in political and scientific debate, of “diversity” (among cultures, roles, societies, attitudes, identities) as a key driver acting on the relationship among European citizens and marine biodiversity. MEDiverSEAty aims at filling these gaps, through the implementation of a Doctoral Network Training and Research Program involving 6 European countries (Italy, Malta, France, Spain, Montenegro and Greece) working on two key-pillars of contemporary marine sciences, policies and education:
1. Ocean Literacy;
2. Marine Biodiversity Conservation

MEDiverSEAty offers 10 Phd positions covering a set of overarching topics:

1. Managing the protection of marine biodiversity through ecosystems services approaches: implication on marine and coastal tourism. A gender perspective.
Doctoral Program in Marine Sciences and Technologies and Managements at University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy).

2. Ocean-Archive.org: A Digital Organism for a Living Ocean.
Doctoral Program in Anthropology at University of Milano-Bicocca. The candidate will be based at the Fundation TBA21 in Venice (Italy).

3. Representation of Biodiversity in Coastal and non-coastal populations.
Ecole Doctorale of EHESS, in the doctoral track Law, Political Studies, and Philosophy, Paris (France).

4. A broadly operationalizable notion of biodiversity.
Ecole Doctorale of EHESS, in the doctoral track Law, Political Studies, and Philosophy, Paris (France).

5. Marine and terrestrial protected areas to foster climate change adaptation: a sustainable livelihoods approach.
Doctoral programme in Islands and Small States Studies, University of Malta (Malta).

6. Economics and citizen science: Insights for ecosystem restoration in marine and terrestrial protected areas.
Doctoral programme in Islands and Small States Studies, University of Malta (Malta).

7. Using artificial reef to preserve biodiversity: potential implications on Marine Literacy and Education.
Doctoral program International PhD Studies in Sustainable Development, University of Montenegro (Montenegro).

8. Socio-economic impacts of sea-surface microplastic concentrations along the coastal shelf of Montenegro.
Doctoral program International PhD Studies in Sustainable Development, University of Montenegro (Montenegro).

9. Understanding the different dimensions of human-nature connectedness for conservation and restoration management in the Mediterranean.
Doctoral programme of Marine Ecology at University of Balearic Islands (Spain).

10. Integrated Coastal Zone Management: mitigation of conflict in the era of global change and the role of local knowledge.
Doctoral Programme of the Department of Marine Sciences, Aegean University (Greece).

MEDiverSEAty Training Program is based on 10 pillars:

1. Mobility of PhDs between partners. Each PhD candidate will need to undertake at least 1 secondment with the non-academic partner of the consortium for a minimum period of 6 months.

2. Workshops and seminars organised by academic and non-academic partners. There will be a calendar of at least 2 interdisciplinary workshops each year (at least 1 workshop per country) focused on specific topics relevant for the whole project’s objectives, to which all 10 PhDs will be invited.

3. MEDiverSEAty Symposium. The Consortium will open a call (M30) on a topic of relevance to the project (e.g, Fishing, Heritage, etc.) and, working as a Board, the 10 PhDs will have to prepare a programme of seminars, roundtables, excursions, exhibitions, etc. inviting lecturers and experts.

4. Project Meetings. The 10 PhDs will be invited to meetings during the whole project cycle.

5. Online training. Each year there will be a calendar of webinars for all the candidates. Webinars will host keynote speakers and will address key topics related to marine conservation and marine literacy.

6. MEDiverSEAty learning platform will be opened for the use of PhD students.

7. Personal Coaching.

8. Ocean-Archive.org. Content production and online platform management training. Candidates will cooperate to the development of a participatory platform for ocean collaborative research, conversation, imagination, and action.

9. Mentoring in a gender perspective.

10. MEDiverSEAty community-building days.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks Programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. Each fellowship includes the following:

1. Monthly living allowance: 3,400 euro/month; pondered by the EU correction coefficient (specific for the countries where the enrolling Institutions are located. The country correction coefficients are indicated in Table 1 of the MSCA Work Programme available at EN Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

2. The candidates are also eligible for mobility allowance of €600/month and, where applicable, a family allowance of €660/month.

• The mobility allowance covers the costs related to the mobility of recruited researchers, such as travel and accommodation. This allowance covers only personal costs incurred by researchers (as opposed to costs linked to professional activities which are covered under the contribution for research, training and networking).
• The family allowance aims to compensate additional costs due to family obligations. In this context, family is defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the national or relevant regional legislation of the country where this relationship was formalized; or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher.

The allowances listed are the gross EU contribution. Consequently, the net salary results from deducting all compulsory (employer/employee) social security contributions as well as direct taxes (e.g. income tax) from the gross amounts. The rate indicated here is for researchers devoting themselves to their project on a full-time basis.

All our network institutions are equal opportunity employers and seek a workforce diverse in age, culture, nationality and gender. None of them will apply restrictions on gender, age, ethnic groups, national or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language, disability, political opinion, and social or economic conditions.

The 10 PhD positions as Doctoral Candidates are open to applicants of all nationalities fulfilling with the following eligibility requirements:

1. H2020 MSCA Mobility Rule. Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention will not be taken into account.

2. H2020 MSCA ESR eligibility criteria. Candidates must be, at the date of recruitment by the host organisation, in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged).

3. Host institution specific requirements. Be in the position of enrolling in a doctoral programme in the host institution’ country and meet its specific eligibility requirements, if applicable. This includes i) master degree compliant with the research fields described in the individual research projects; ii) excellent/good oral and written English language skills, if English is not his/her first language, iii) good skills in scientific writing and results presentation.

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