The University of Twente wants to be an organisation that optimally 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.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The overall aim of the Knowledge Network Water is to identify knowledge needs in the Dutch water sector that can be addressed by future space missions or by advanced use of planned/existing space infrastructure and Earth Observation (EO). There are three themes in this knowledge network: drought, water quality, and flood. We are now recruiting one postdoc position to work on the drought topic.
The consecutive drought events of 2018-2023 in the Netherlands caused great social distress and huge economic damage. The drought-related damage in 2018 was estimated between 900 and 1,650 million euros. To quantify the response of agriculture and natural ecosystems to prolonged drought events and to improve their resilience, we need to study the water/carbon/nutrient use of the soil-plant system, integrating satellite data, field observations and modelling. Satellite missions monitoring the drought response of terrestrial ecosystems, for drought detection and early warnings, deliver satellite observables linked to vegetation health, including but not limited to biomass, FAPAR – Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetic Active Radiation, LAI – Leaf Area Index, VOD – Vegetation Optical Depth, SIF – solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, Surface Soil Moisture (SSM), Root-Zone Soil Moisture (RZSM), Vegetation Water Content (VWC), and Land Surface Temperature.
You are expected to explore the use of satellite measurements of SIF, SSM/RZSM, VWC and beyond as mentioned above, across different spatiotemporal scales to enable process-level understanding of drought responses of agriculture and nature ecosystems. Furthermore, you will contribute to the development of a Digital Twin of the Soil-Plant system, which will facilitate the assessment of the evolution and health of plants and ecosystems, via optimally integrating multi-wavelength satellite (future) missions, in situ measurements, analytical- and physically-based models, as well as physics-informed machine learning/deep learning. Furthermore, you are expected to work together with partners in the Dutch water sector and help identify future satellite mission concepts for the continuous monitoring of soil-plant health.
YOUR PROFILE
- A PhD in soil-plant science, ecohydrology, remote sensing, computer science, geosciences, physics, applied mathematics, process-based (soil/biogeochemical) modelling, radiative transfer modelling, numerical methods, machine learning or a related field
- A background in one or more of the following: physics-informed machine learning; google earth engine; dealing with high-performance computing facilities (e.g., SURF-Snellius); big data handling; FAIR collaborative principles.
- Strong skills in scientific computer programming (e.g., in Matlab, Python)
- Scientific creativity that has preferably resulted in scientific publications
- Excellent communication skills and English language proficiency
- An open mind towards applying open science principles
- Affinity with a multicultural education environment
- Good conceptual, communication, problem-solving and organizational skills, and an interest in engaging in team-based collaborations
OUR OFFER
- An inspiring multidisciplinary, international and academic environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda
- A full-time position for 2 years
- Gross monthly salary between € 3.720,- and € 5.090,- per month depending on experience and qualifications (UFO profile Researcher 4)
- 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 green and lively campus
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
For more information, you can contact Dr Yijian Zeng (email: y.zeng@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.
Please submit your application no later than 9 June 2024. Your application should include:
- A cover letter (maximum 1 page A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications and motivations to apply for this position
- A Curriculum Vitae, including the names of 2 references
Job interviews are scheduled between 17 and 21 June 2024.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The WRS department works in the domains of Water and the Environment, focusing on water, food, energy and ecosystem security and sustainability. The department uses Earth observation and in-situ ground truthing in combination with hydrologic and Earth systems modelling and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the assessment and monitoring of the water, energy and biogeochemical cycles to support planning and management of water resources, freshwater and coastal ecosystems under global change.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
The 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.
