Senior Researcher in Marine Socio-Technics

This is a one-year position, for a person resident in France, working remotely. 

Project Context

LandSeaLot - Land-Sea interface: Let’s observe together! is a Horizon Europe project (Feb. 2024 - Jan.2028) that seeks to integrate and enhance existing coastal observation efforts - including in-situ, satellite, modelling, and citizen science—to better study the land-sea interface area, where terrestrial and marine habitats meet.

TransEurope Marinas, an Association Loi 1901, acts as a community engagement partner within the consortium, leveraging its extensive network to co-design monitoring strategies and test innovative, scalable solutions. Our work within the project aims to contribute to climate resilience, sustainable marina management and ocean literacy in marinas across Europe.

Role Overview: Bridging the "Usability Gap"

The successful candidate will lead a dedicated study titled: 'Detecting, analysing & promoting sustainable citizen engagement in ocean science within marina communities'. They will report to Melanie Symes within TransEurope Marinas and work closely with the relevant European partners in the LandSeaLot project.

The role focuses on translating research into practice through the development of educational and technical resources that remove barriers to long-term participation in citizen science initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Socio-Technical Research: Design and conduct qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to map the needs and motivations of boaters, divers, and marina operators.
• Case Study & Methodology Research: Conduct a comparative review of global citizen science use cases and engagement techniques to identify scalable methodologies applicable to the marina environment.
• Benchmarking Innovative Practices: Identify and evaluate successful digital and physical tools used in other citizen science domains to inform the development of the LandSeaLot "Starter Packs".
• Resource & Toolkit Development: Design and produce a suite of educational materials, digital resources, and 'Citizen Science Starter Packs' tailored for boaters, marina operators, water sports enthusiasts and local visitors.
• Pilot Management: Manage the 2026 pilot deployment of the Starter Packs (including temperature loggers and Secchi disks), ensuring smooth implementation and feedback collection.
• Sensor User-Friendliness Scoring: Create an evaluation system for low-cost environmental sensors, to guide citizens in selecting accessible and user-friendly tools.
• Designing Feedback Loops: Establish dynamic mechanisms to demonstrate the impact of participant contributions and support continuous improvement of engagement strategies.
• Best Practice Documentation: Produce the "Best Practice Guide" for the LandSeaLot Citizen Science Hub to help both facilitate and standardise engagement across European coastal communities.

Required Qualifications

• Location & Residency: This position is based in France. The successful candidate must be a resident in France for the duration of the contract, as the role is subject to French social security contributions and tax legislation (cotisations sociales et fiscalité française).
• Experience & Education: PhD or equivalent senior research experience in Social Sciences (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Human Geography), or Environmental/Marine Science with demonstrated expertise in Socio-Technical studies or Citizen Science.
• Methodological Expertise: Demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative social research methods, including the design and analysis of interviews, focus groups, and surveys to understand user behaviour and motivations.
• Analytical Research Skills: Ability to conduct independent desk research into citizen science frameworks and translate successful external "use cases" into actionable strategies for marina communities.
• Technical & Ocean Literacy: Ability to interpret data from low-cost sensors - including recently developed or pre-market prototypes - and the skill to translate complex scientific protocols into accessible educational resources for a general audience.
• Resource Development: Proven experience creating educational materials or toolkits tailored for diverse stakeholders.
• Communication: Excellent written and spoken British English. Proficiency in French is highly desirable to facilitate collaboration within the LandSeaLot consortium and across French-speaking marina networks.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fully remote environment, with strong self-organisation, self-motivation, and a proficient capacity to report progress.

5. Equality & Ethics

TransEurope Marinas is committed to an inclusive and equitable recruitment process. This recruitment follows the EU OTM-R (Open, Transparent, and Merit-based Recruitment) guidelines and aligns with the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, ethnicity, or disability.

Selection Committee: Applications will be evaluated by a gender-balanced Selection Committee, including experts in marine science, social research, and management to ensure an objective and diverse assessment.

Selection Process & Evaluation Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated based on a weighted scoring matrix (total 100%) to ensure a fair and merit-based appointment:

• Scientific Rigour (25%): PhD or senior-level ability to design longitudinal studies that produce research-ready data.
• The Nexus Focus (20%): Ability to align community interest in ocean stewardship with the technical needs of observation gaps.
• Resource Design (20%): Proven ability to develop practical resources that both engage and reduce friction for non-scientists.
• Research & Use Cases (15%): Skills in benchmarking external techniques (e.g., from other citizen science sectors) for marina application.
• Technical Practicality (10%): Practicality in managing sensor deployment
• Communication (10%): Mastery of British English and proficiency in French.

Recruitment Phases

1. Eligibility Check: Review of residency in France and basic qualifications.
2. Shortlisting: Scoring of applications against the weighted criteria above.
3. Strategic Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a formal interview to discuss their research strategy and approach to community engagement.

Application Process

Please send the following to info@transeuropemarinas.com

• An up-to-date CV (including any links to research profiles)
• A Cover Letter outlining your experience in social science methodology and your approach to developing practical resources for non-specialist audiences.
• Residency Confirmation: Please confirm that you are based in France for the duration of the contract, as this role is subject to French social security and tax legislation.

Key dates:

·       Closing Date: 13th March 2026

·       Shortlisting: 17th - 18th March

·       Interviews: 24th - 25th March