Centre postdoctoral researcher awarded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship

Inês, a Postdoctoral Research Associate examining accumulation of biodiversity in the Anthropocene at the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity (LCAB), was awarded the grant as part of the Horizon 2020 programme which champions outstanding postdoctoral researchers.

Inês’ fellowship project will consider variable spatial patterns of biodiversity losses and gains, the traits of the outgoing and incoming species and the impact of different environmental drivers on these patterns of change.

Inês will hold her fellowship at LCAB partner institute, the University of St Andrews, where she will work alongside LCAB collaborator and Research Strategy Group member, Dr Maria Dornelas. She will also be co-supervised by Dr Franziska Schrodt from the University of Nottingham.

Inês said: "I'm thrilled to be awarded a Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship. In collaboration with the University of St Andrews and the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity I'm looking forward to developing the TraChange project and ultimately improving our understanding on how species characteristics determine the spatio-temporal patterns of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene."

The EU will finance nearly 1500 post-doctoral researchers to find solutions to current and future societal problems in cooperation with top universities and research organisations, while helping them enhance their skills and innovative potential.

Dr Dornelas commented: “Inês’ project tackles a knowledge gap in our understanding of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene: the characteristics of winners and losers. I am delighted to be able to work alongside her on this research.”

MSCA Individual Fellowships include research into anti-cancer therapies, energy management, optimising water utilisation for farming and understanding the effects of digital technologies on young adults.