Assistant Professor In Spatial modelling for climate-smart food systems

• Hours40 hr.

• Salary indication€ 3,974 - € 6,181

• Deadline14 Dec 2022

Climate-smart food systems are an integral part of the solution for addressing climate change. Knowledge of where, when, and how to improve the performance, sustainability, and resilience of food systems in a changing climate is a growing area of interest for research, policy, and financial investment. This requires spatial and temporal modelling of the impact of a changing climate on food systems and vice versa.

Food system models represent the different activities within food systems (such as production, processing, distribution, and consumption) and incorporate multiple drivers and feedback loops with social/human systems and environmental systems. Many of these activities, drivers, and feedback loops are spatial processes; there is great potential for further integration of state-of-the-art Earth observation and other sources of spatial data into such models.

Modelling multiscale interactions with ecological processes and ecosystem services as well as modelling the outcomes at multiple levels provides insight about plausible transitions towards circular and climate-smart food systems. Developing this modelling toolkit is a scientific opportunity with high societal value. To address this, we are looking for an Assistant Professor on “Spatial modelling for climate-smart food systems”

You will contribute to ITC’s innovative geospatial research and education for societal impact by:

-          Conducting research on the use of Earth observation and other spatial data for modelling climate-smart food systems.

-          Developing, coordinating, and teaching courses on modelling in our education programmes.

-          Co-supervising PhD candidates and MSc students.

-          Publishing your research in scientific journals, conferences, and open data/code platforms.

-          Collaborating with ITC colleagues and your broader network to demonstrate the scientific and societal impact of (y)our work.

-          Joining or leading international projects, providing you with exciting opportunities to use and extend your network.

-          Communicating about your research and education to a broad audience.

-          Extending our network.

For more information you can contact Prof Andy Nelson (e-mail: a.nelson@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.

Please submit your application before 15 December 2022 (choose “apply here” below). Your application has to include:

• A motivation letter clearly addressing the main points in the position profile and how you fit the profile
• A full Curriculum Vitae
• The names and contact details of two references

Applications will be reviewed in January 2023 and a first round of online interviews will take place in February, 2023

The University of Twente wants to be an organisation that optimally deploys diversity, talents and capabilities in the labour market for now and the future. In the framework of our diversity and inclusiveness policy, we strongly stimulate people with a (work) disability to apply for this position.

As one of ITC’s six scientific departments, the Department of Natural Resources uses Earth observation data and spatial information in combination with systems analysis to map, monitor, model, and manage natural resources, for their sustainable use, development, and restoration under global change.

One of our themes is Food Security and the sustainable use of natural resources to provide sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food whilst reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. ITC contributes to local and global food security initiatives by combining the latest geospatial technologies, including Earth observation, with innovative field, lab, and computational methods to better understand the “where“, “when“, and “how“ of agricultural production and its impact on the environment.

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.