[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD Position: Remote Sensing of Sub-Tropical Forest Degradation

[Erika Marín-Spiotta]

Date:    Thu, 2 Jul 2015 13:12:49 -0400
From:    =?windows-1252?Q?Laura_Kehoe?= <laurajkehoe at GMAIL.COM>
Subject: PhD Position: Remote Sensing of Sub-Tropical Forest Degradation

The Geography Department at Humboldt-University Berlin seeks highly=20
qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD Position in Remote Sensing=20=

of Sub-Tropical Forest Degradation

One funded PhD position (TV-L HU 13, 60%) for three years.=20
Starting date: from 1st October 2015.
Application deadline: 16 July 2015
Reference number: DR/096/15

The successful applicant will study forest degradation in the South=20
American Chaco using satellite remote sensing and ground data. The Chaco=20=

ecoregion, stretching into parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay,=20
has experienced widespread land-use change with drastic outcomes for=20
biodiversity and ecosystem service provisioning. In this context, the=20
successful candidate will focus on assessing gradual forest changes in=20=

the Chaco, for example due to changing grazing pressure or logging. To=20=

quantify forest degradation and recovery across large areas in the=20
Chaco, and to assess the environmental outcomes of these changes, the=20
applicant will develop and apply time-series methods that make full use=20=

of the Landsat archives and upcoming sensors such as Sentinel-2. The=20
position will contribute to a larger research project focusing on=20
understanding recent land-use changes and their effects on biodiversity=20=

in the Chaco, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and carried=20=

out in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnolog=EDa=20
Agropecuaria (INTA) in Buenos Aires and Salta, and the National=20
Universities of Tucuman and Mar del Plata (all in Argentina).

At the Geography Department, the applicant will join the Biogeography &am=
p;=20
Conservation Biology Lab (https://www.geographie.hu-
berlin.de/en/professorships/biogeography), which seeks to better=20
understand dynamics in coupled human-natural systems, and how these=20
dynamics affect biodiversity =96 from landscape to global scales. Our=20
research has the overall goal to help identify pathways to balance human=20=

resource use with the conservation of biodiversity, and is strongly=20
motivated by providing solutions to conservation problems. We develop=20
and apply approaches grounded in spatial ecology, spatial statistics,=20
geographic analyses, and remote sensing. The group works in=20
collaboration with researchers and science institutions worldwide, and=20=

is an active contributor to science networks such as the Global Land=20
Project and Diversitas. The working language of the group is English.

We seek a candidate with an above-average MSc (or equivalent degree) in=20=

Geography, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Ecology, or related fields.=20=

We expect experience and a strong interest in land system science,=20
forest ecology, and sustainability science. Required methodological=20
skills include a sound background in remote sensing, geographic=20
information systems, and spatial statistics. Experience in scripting=20
languages (e.g., Python) and in R, as well as in forestry biometry=20
methods is a plus. Spanish language skills are highly welcome. We also=20=

expect excellent command of the English language, good communication=20
skills, and willingness to work in international research teams.

We offer a position in an international, young and dynamic team with an=20=

excellent scientific record. Payment will be according to EGr. 13 TV-L=20=

HU (60% position), i.e., an annual gross salary of about 22,000-25,000=20=

EUR, depending on prior research experience. Employment at Humboldt-
Universit=E4t zu Berlin offers all benefits of the German public service,=
=20
including health insurance. Funding for participation in scientific=20
conferences and relevant workshops is available. Humboldt-Universit=E4t z=
u=20
Berlin is located in the Berlin-Brandenburg research area and closely=20
linked to neighboring institutions like the Potsdam Institute for=20
Climate Impact Research (PIK) or the German Research Centre for=20
Geosciences (GFZ). HU Berlin hosts one of Germany=92s leading Geography=20=

Departments, with research foci in Land System Science, Sustainability=20=

Science, and Metropolitan Studies. Berlin is Germany=92s largest city wit=
h=20
an inspiring metropolitan flair and great scientific networking=20
opportunities. Researchers from abroad are welcome to apply. HU Berlin=20=

is a certified family-friendly university. We seek to increase the=20
proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourage=20=

qualified female scientists/researchers to apply. Applicants with=20
disabilities with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential=20=

consideration. Non-German Citizens are specifically encouraged to apply.=20=

Please refer to https://www.personalabteilung.hu-
berlin.de/stellenausschreibungen where you find the legally binding=20
German version of the job announcement.

Applicants should include (1) a letter of motivation, (2) a full CV, (3)=20=

a writing example (e.g., a publication, a part of a thesis), and (4)=20
contact details for two references. Please send the application=20
electronically in a single PDF file to Ms. Dagmar W=F6rister=20
(dagmar.woerister at geo.hu-berlin.de).=20
Please include the reference number in the content line of your email.
Application deadline: 16 July 2015

For further information please contact Prof. Tobias Kuemmerle=20
(tobias.kuemmerle at geo.hu-berlin.de)
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