Offer Description
As part of the EO4Irrig « Earth Observation for Irrigation » project under the ANR LabCom program,
the postdoctoral fellow will develop, test and consolidate new methods for retrieving irrigation
water use (IWU) at the crop scale by assimilating high-resolution remote sensing data in a crop
water balance model. In practice, the position’s activities will include :
– Getting started with the FAO-56-based crop water balance modeling—MODSPA—platform ;
– Pre-processing the remote sensing data to be used as input to the IWU retrieval method ;
– Getting started with the assimilation scheme of Sentinel1-derived soil moisture data in
MODSPA (published in Laluet et al. 2024, Agricultural Water Management) ;
– Integrating the Landsat-derived crop water stress index data in the method ;
– Applying the retrieval methodology over several irrigated areas where in situ measurements
of IWU are available ;
– Assessing the IWU retrieval approaches ;
– Linking these activities to the approaches for mapping irrigated areas that will be developed
in EO4Irrig.
– Publishing results in a high-ranked journa
Where to apply
E-mail: olivier.merlin@utoulouse.fr
Skills/Qualifications
Good skills in programming (Python) and image processing are necessary. Knowledge in
remote sensing (radar, thermal infrared, shortwave) and/or in land surface
modeling (water and energy balances) is an asset.
Good organizational skills; ability to work in a team and to communicate in an effective and caring
manner; ability to report on activity, assemble and format the results of simulation experiments
Specific Requirements
The Centre d’Études Spatiales de la Biosphère (CESBIO) is a French public Joint Research Unit involving
CNES, CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier and INRAE. It investigates continental surfaces
and their interactions with climate and human activities by combining satellite remote sensing,
modelling and field experimentation. CESBIO also contributes to the definition, implementation and
scientific exploitation of major EO missions, including SMOS, Venμs, BIOMASS and TRISHNA. CESBIO
has long-standing expertise in water-cycle monitoring, agroecosystems, crop water requirements and
irrigation in temperate, semi-arid and tropical environments. Its capabilities combine EO algorithm
development, hydrological and agronomic modelling, experimental observatories, reference-data
collection and the transfer of research methods to operational users. Its regional observatories
provide meteorological, flux, soil, vegetation, biomass and yield measurements suitable for method
calibration and validation.
CESBIO is identified as a security restrictive zone (ZRR) laboratory. Candidate is required to follow a
authorization process to be granted access. He/she will also be required to follow closely the security
guidance rules once recruited
Additional Information
Additional comments
Expected start date : 01/12/2026
Contract duration : one year
Salary: based on experience (between 2250 € and 2583 € per month net income)
