PhD Candidate Geo artificial intelligence for mapping vegetation dynamics

Job title:

PhD Candidate Geo artificial intelligence for mapping vegetation dynamics

Company:

Universiteit Twente

Job description

Hours40 hr.Salary indicationSalary gross/monthly
based on full-time€ 2,901 – € 3,707Deadline5 Mar 2025The University of Twente wants to be an organisation that effectively deploys diversity, talents, and capabilities in the labour market for now and in the future. In the framework of our diversity and inclusiveness policy, we strongly stimulate people with a (work) disability to apply for this position.The University of Twente is committed to providing a working environment where everyone is valued, respected, and supported to progress. Our priority is to ensure that no one is disadvantaged based on their ethnicity, gender, culture, disability, LGBTQ+ identities, family and caring responsibilities, age, or religion. We encourage everyone who shares these values to apply.Your challengeYou will help us realizing the ambitions of the EARTHONE (Environmental Analysis and Resilience for Transformative Human-Optimized Natural Environments) Horizon Europe project from a geospatial perspective.EARTHONE will contribute to optimizing the net removal of Greenhouse gas emissions by assessing the contribution of sustainable land-use changes in different environments. To achieve this, EARTHONE will follow a multidisciplinary and multiscale approach, integrating innovative data-driven technologies with regional context through a series of living labs in Southern Europe.You will conduct a comprehensive vegetation seasonality (phenology) study at regional and local scales to better understand how vegetation responds to climate change by integrating and analysing climate simulations, weather and remotely sensed products, and ground observations collected from the existing networks and the project living labs. You will start by mapping the main phenological regions in Europe. Then you will focus on modelling the role of extreme weather events and land use change on vegetation seasonality and efficiency. For this, you will develop and apply geo-artificial intelligence methods, including spatiotemporal machine learning techniques, and gather and integrate experienced knowledge from climate modellers, foresters, soil scientists and agronomists.Your profile

• An MSc degree in geospatial, computer, or environmental sciences, or any other related field

• A strong passion for data-driven analysis coupled with excellent programming skills (preferably Python) and knowledge of and experience with the design and implementation of machine learning models

• A background in geospatial modelling, spatial statistics and machine/deep learning

• The ability to work on real-world problems in an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environment

• Good communication skills and an excellent command of English. Fluency in Dutch or willingness to learn Dutch is a plus

• Climate change and ecological and/or phenological knowledge are a plus

Interested and motivated candidates are encouraged to apply, even when they must possess all desired skills. You can develop relevant skills on the job through dedicated learning and doctoral training.Our offer

• An inspiring multidisciplinary, international, and academic environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues, and internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda.

• Full-time position for four years with a mandatory qualifier after 6-9 months.

• A professional and personal development programme within Twente Graduate School

• Gross monthly salary of € 2,901.00 in the first year, which increases to € 3,707.00 in the fourth year

• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%

• Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development

• A solid pension scheme

• A total of 41 holiday days per year in case of full-time employment

• Excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, and a lively green campus

For more information about the PhD programme at UT, check the UT PhD Information Page.Information and applicationFor more information, you may contact Dr Mahdi Khodadadzadeh (email: m.khodadadzadeh@utwente.nl) or Prof Dr Raul Zurita-Milla (email: r.zurita-milla@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.For questions about working and living in the Netherlands, please consult the official website of the Netherlands Government or the website of the Expat Center East Netherlands.Please submit your application before March 6, 2025, including:

• A motivation letter (one-page maximum ) emphasizing why you would like to investigate this topic and what you bring to the team

• Curriculum Vitae (including a list of all courses attended, grades obtained, the names and contact information of two references and – if applicable – a publication list)

• A short (two pages maximum) research proposal outlining your ideas regarding phenological modelling in the context of the EARTHONE project.

• A short description (about 250 words) of your last significant result (MSc thesis/final project report/EngD thesis).

First-round interviews are scheduled for March 19, 2025. A (possible) second round interview might take place a week after the 1st round interview.Share this vacancyAbout the departmentThe geoinformation Processing Department (GIP) works on the design and development of methods & techniques for processing (acquiring, organizing, analysing) heterogeneous collections of spatiotemporal data, and in the implementation of open geo-information solutions (models, visualizations and services) that help to understand key societal problems.About the organisationThe Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation. Our mission is capacity development, where we apply, share and facilitate the effective use of geo-information and earth observation knowledge and tools for tackling global wicked problems. Our purpose is to enable our many partners around the world to track and trace the impact – and the shifting causes and frontiers – of today’s global challenges. Our vision is of a world in which researchers, educators, and students collaborate across disciplinary and geographic divides with governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutes, businesses, and local populations to surmount today’s complex global challenges and to contribute to sustainable, fair, and digital societies.Want to know more?Khodadadzadeh, M. (Mahdi)
Assistant ProfessorKhodadadzadeh, M. (Mahdi)
Assistant ProfessorDo you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Mahdi for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.

Expected salary

€2901 per month

Location

Enschede, Overijssel

Job date

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:01:25 GMT

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