<div dir="ltr">Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 13:12:49 -0400<br>
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Laura_Kehoe?= <<a href="mailto:laurajkehoe@GMAIL.COM">laurajkehoe@GMAIL.COM</a>><br>
Subject: PhD Position: Remote Sensing of Sub-Tropical Forest Degradation<br>
<br>
The Geography Department at Humboldt-University Berlin seeks highly=20<br>
qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD Position in Remote Sensing=20=<br>
<br>
of Sub-Tropical Forest Degradation<br>
<br>
One funded PhD position (TV-L HU 13, 60%) for three years.=20<br>
Starting date: from 1st October 2015.<br>
Application deadline: 16 July 2015<br>
Reference number: DR/096/15<br>
<br>
The successful applicant will study forest degradation in the South=20<br>
American Chaco using satellite <span tabindex="0" class=""><span class="">remote sensi</span></span>ng and ground data. The Chaco=20=<br>
<br>
ecoregion, stretching into parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay,=20<br>
has experienced widespread land-use change with drastic outcomes for=20<br>
biodiversity and ecosystem service provisioning. In this context, the=20<br>
successful candidate will focus on assessing gradual forest changes in=20=<br>
<br>
the Chaco, for example due to changing grazing pressure or logging. To=20=<br>
<br>
quantify forest degradation and recovery across large areas in the=20<br>
Chaco, and to assess the environmental outcomes of these changes, the=20<br>
applicant will develop and apply time-series methods that make full use=20=<br>
<br>
of the Landsat archives and upcoming sensors such as Sentinel-2. The=20<br>
position will contribute to a larger research project focusing on=20<br>
understanding recent land-use changes and their effects on biodiversity=20=<br>
<br>
in the Chaco, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and carried=20=<br>
<br>
out in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnolog=EDa=20<br>
Agropecuaria (INTA) in Buenos Aires and Salta, and the National=20<br>
Universities of Tucuman and Mar del Plata (all in Argentina).<br>
<br>
At the Geography Department, the applicant will join the Biogeography &am=<br>
p;=20<br>
Conservation Biology Lab (<a href="https://www.geographie.hu-" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.geographie.hu-</a><br>
<a href="http://berlin.de/en/professorships/biogeography" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">berlin.de/en/professorships/biogeography</a>), which seeks to better=20<br>
understand dynamics in coupled human-natural systems, and how these=20<br>
dynamics affect biodiversity =96 from landscape to global scales. Our=20<br>
research has the overall goal to help identify pathways to balance human=20=<br>
<br>
resource use with the conservation of biodiversity, and is strongly=20<br>
motivated by providing solutions to conservation problems. We develop=20<br>
and apply approaches grounded in spatial ecology, spatial statistics,=20<br>
geographic analyses, and remote sensing. The group works in=20<br>
collaboration with researchers and science institutions worldwide, and=20=<br>
<br>
is an active contributor to science networks such as the Global Land=20<br>
Project and Diversitas. The working language of the group is English.<br>
<br>
We seek a candidate with an above-average MSc (or equivalent degree) in=20=<br>
<br>
Geography, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Ecology, or related fields.=20=<br>
<br>
We expect experience and a strong interest in land system science,=20<br>
forest ecology, and sustainability science. Required methodological=20<br>
skills include a sound background in remote sensing, geographic=20<br>
information systems, and spatial statistics. Experience in scripting=20<br>
languages (e.g., Python) and in R, as well as in forestry biometry=20<br>
methods is a plus. Spanish language skills are highly welcome. We also=20=<br>
<br>
expect excellent command of the English language, good communication=20<br>
skills, and willingness to work in international research teams.<br>
<br>
We offer a position in an international, young and dynamic team with an=20=<br>
<br>
excellent scientific record. Payment will be according to EGr. 13 TV-L=20=<br>
<br>
HU (60% position), i.e., an annual gross salary of about 22,000-25,000=20=<br>
<br>
EUR, depending on prior research experience. Employment at Humboldt-<br>
Universit=E4t zu Berlin offers all benefits of the German public service,=<br>
=20<br>
including health insurance. Funding for participation in scientific=20<br>
conferences and relevant workshops is available. Humboldt-Universit=E4t z=<br>
u=20<br>
Berlin is located in the Berlin-Brandenburg research area and closely=20<br>
linked to neighboring institutions like the Potsdam Institute for=20<br>
Climate Impact Research (PIK) or the German Research Centre for=20<br>
Geosciences (GFZ). HU Berlin hosts one of Germany=92s leading Geography=20=<br>
<br>
Departments, with research foci in Land System Science, Sustainability=20=<br>
<br>
Science, and Metropolitan Studies. Berlin is Germany=92s largest city wit=<br>
h=20<br>
an inspiring metropolitan flair and great scientific networking=20<br>
opportunities. Researchers from abroad are welcome to apply. HU Berlin=20=<br>
<br>
is a certified family-friendly university. We seek to increase the=20<br>
proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourage=20=<br>
<br>
qualified female scientists/researchers to apply. Applicants with=20<br>
disabilities with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential=20=<br>
<br>
consideration. Non-German Citizens are specifically encouraged to apply.=20=<br>
<br>
Please refer to <a href="https://www.personalabteilung.hu-" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.personalabteilung.hu-</a><br>
<a href="http://berlin.de/stellenausschreibungen" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">berlin.de/stellenausschreibungen</a> where you find the legally binding=20<br>
German version of the job announcement.<br>
<br>
Applicants should include (1) a letter of motivation, (2) a full CV, (3)=20=<br>
<br>
a writing example (e.g., a publication, a part of a thesis), and (4)=20<br>
contact details for two references. Please send the application=20<br>
electronically in a single PDF file to Ms. Dagmar W=F6rister=20<br>
(<a href="mailto:dagmar.woerister@geo.hu-berlin.de">dagmar.woerister@geo.hu-berlin.de</a>).=20<br>
Please include the reference number in the content line of your email.<br>
Application deadline: 16 July 2015<br>
<br>
For further information please contact Prof. Tobias Kuemmerle=20<br>
(<a href="mailto:tobias.kuemmerle@geo.hu-berlin.de">tobias.kuemmerle@geo.hu-berlin.de</a>)</div>