Vacancy
PhD Researcher: Advancing Forest Inventories in Small EU Countries Using Field Data and Multi-Source Remote Sensing
Your job
Do you want to become part of one of the leading forest groups in Europe? Then this is a great opportunity to join our team and help us to further develop our forest research! The team Sustainable Forest Ecosystems (SFE) together with the chair group Geo information and Remote Sensing of WUR expand PhD capacity.
Are you a motivated and curious individual with a strong interest in remote sensing, forest ecology and spatial analysis? Do you have an MSc degree in forest ecology, remote sensing, geo-information science or a similar relevant field, and are you proficient in programming with R/Python and/or GEE? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you!
Team Sustainable Forest Ecosystems and the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS) at Wageningen University and Research are jointly looking for an aspiring PhD to explore the potential of advancing forest inventories in small EU countries using field data and multi-source remote sensing.
Improving the accuracy and completeness of national forest inventories (NFI) of small EU countries faces challenges due to their diverse forests (species, management), limited sampling and resources. With upcoming monitoring legislation demanding annual reports, the focus is on reducing uncertainties, incorporating additional forest variables and moving towards higher (supporting) map resolutions.
The countries in question are the Netherlands, Denmark/Ireland, Luxembourg, and possibly a more challenging case like Slovenia or even Greece, which lacks an NFI but aims to generate relevant data.
New multi-frequency radar satellite data, specifically NISAR (L-band) and BIOMASS (P-band), will become available, complementing existing radar (Sentinel-1 C-band) and optical (Sentinel-2, Planet) satellite data streams. This presents new opportunities to assess forest structure and changes related to species composition, management practices, and disturbances, thereby improving the assessment of key forest parameters (e.g., biomass, basal area).
As a PhD researcher you will:
- Develop robust approaches for combining data acquired from heterogeneous sampling designs.
- Assess new variables for multifunctional forests by integrating NFI and multi-source RS data.
- Develop spatiotemporal gap filling methods for several forest variables.
- Assess and project gap-filled forest variables for annual reporting.
- Synthesize the above in journal papers and a thesis.
The research is hosted within Team Sustainable Forest Ecosystems and the Laboratory for Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS), and will be supervised by Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Johannes Reiche and Sytze de Bruin. This PhD programme is also a part of PE & RC, a collaborative research and PhD training institute coordinated by Wageningen University (WU). The PhD programme is embedded in a coherent and productive research environment that aims to perform academic research of the highest quality. For more information, click here
Your qualities
As a PhD researcher you must have:
- An (or about to be obtained) MSc degree in forest ecology, forest/nature conservation, remote sensing or geo-information science or a similar relevant field.
- Sound understanding of remote sensing
- Sound understanding of forest ecology and biodiversity.
- Experience or strong interest in big geo data analysis
- Proficiency in programming, preferably with R/Python and/or GEE.
- Excellent English language skills both written and spoken.
- Motivation, curiosity, and willingness to work in a highly dynamic team.
- Meet the entry requirements of English language for WUR PE&RC PhD programme.
You will work here
This a combined PhD position of SFE and GRS. You will be appointed at SFE: The Team Sustainable Forest Ecosystems consists of 24 enthusiastic colleagues working on options for conservation, restoration, development and sustainable use of trees and forests from an ecological perspective. We focus on the way in which policy, management and climate affect ecological processes and what their consequences are for climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and restoration, delivery of ecosystem services and other specific policy goals. The team offers a stimulating working environment combining first class expertise and young enthusiasm!
To get a taste of the team you will be part of, read this: https://lnkd.in/e63_eMGt
We offer you
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
- the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, per week;
- sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
- there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
- a fixed December bonus of 8,3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.629 ,– per month rising to € 3.360,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreement Wageningen Research Foundation (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “ Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 18th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.
Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Gert-Jan Nabuurs Professor European forest resources, telephone +31 6 10559433 or by e-mail gert-jan.nabuurs@wur.nl. Or Dr Sytze de Bruin: sytze.debruin@wur.nl
For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter noorien.abbas@wur.nl.
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including Monday, 9 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews from mid September 2024.
Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure
Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.
We are
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.