assistant research (Postdoctoral researcher) in Engineering and Technology or Natural Sciences fields

11 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

AGH University of Krakow

Department

Faculty Geo-data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering

Research Field

Engineering
Environmental science
Geosciences

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Poland

Application Deadline

17 May 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

 

Description of tasks:

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will play a crucial role in modelling rock mass deformation processes, analyzing land surface strain tensors, and studying environmental interactions in the area of sinkhole formation. Additionally, you will be actively involved in the majority of project tasks, from analyzing InSAR processing results to identifying sinkhole precursors.

 

Your specific tasks will include:

 

Task 1: Estimation of the Spatial and Temporal Pattern of Sinkhole Development

You will analyse interferograms generated by differential (DInSAR), permanent scatters (PSInSAR), small baseline (SBAS), and Offset-Tracking (OT) methods. By creating interferograms with advanced satellite data processing techniques, you will achieve high spatial coverage and accurate land surface displacement measures. Multiple sensors will provide a more detailed analysis of land surface movements and optimize computational parameters. Information on amplitude normalized radar backscatter will also be determined. By integrating these data sets (phase, amplitude, and time series) across time and space, you will establish the spatio-temporal deformation patterns associated with sinkhole formation.

 

Task 2: Strain Tensor Analysis

You will investigate the horizontal strain tensor associated with the displacement field observed by InSAR. Line-of-sight (LOS) projections of land surface movements will be decomposed in areas with double-geometry radar imaging. This will provide a characterization of the displacement field, including vertical and horizontal displacements. You will calculate a strain deformation tensor using this data to study compression and tension zones and rotation of the strain tensor. These insights will provide valuable information about land surface deformation characteristics in the sinkhole area, serving as potential precursors to the deformation process. In this stage, you will also use numerical modelling to simulate the observed sinkhole theoretically, allowing for the investigation of stress distribution and the mechanism of sinkhole formation.

 

Description of the project:

As a response to climate change, sinkholes are appearing due to the rapid thawing of Arctic permafrost and intensified droughts, contributing to rising CO2 emissions and causing severe environmental changes. Despite being a global issue, their monitoring is underdeveloped compared to other deformations. This project aims to leverage remote techniques such as Satellite Radar Interferometry (InSAR), Numerical Modelling (NM) and Machine Learning (ML) to understand sinkhole formation physics and effectively detect developing sinkholes. The interdisciplinary approach will allow us to assess the accelerating deformations caused by climate change.

This research will integrate historical sinkhole data with current and archived InSAR data to analyze displacement and strain tensor fields in sinkhole-prone areas. Meteorological data will supplement the InSAR observations, with ML tools used to identify forming sinkholes and the mechanisms driving their deformation fields. The outcome will be a novel methodology for identifying sinkholes, which will be compared with existing risk assessment methods for effectiveness and efficiency.

The research will enhance our understanding of sinkhole formation mechanisms and improve the detection of their precursors. In regions where irrigation systems or closed mines contribute to sinkhole formation, our findings will illuminate rock mass reaction mechanisms. Additionally, our project will allow for a more accurate estimation of potential CO2 and methane emissions from sinkholes, thereby improving climate model calibrations and assessments of greenhouse gas impacts on climate change, both regionally and globally.

This postdoctoral research opportunity offers a significant step forward in addressing and combating a major environmental and climatic issue.

 

Supervisors and Team:

The postdoctoral researcher will work under the primary supervision of Dr. Wojciech Witkowski, with additional guidance from Dr. Artur Guzy.

You will have the opportunity to work within the dynamic and stimulating environment of the Land Subsidence and Hazard Mitigation Group (visit our website for more information: https://land-subsidence.com/ ).

To learn more about the specific project details, you can visit the following link: https://projekty.ncn.gov.pl/opisy/539896-en.pdf , https://home.agh.edu.pl/~wwitkow/Sonata_grant/ or contact us directly ([email protected] , [email protected] ) .

This is a unique opportunity to join a young, vibrant research group that is making significant strides in understanding and mitigating the impacts of land subsidence and related hazards.

Qualifications:

Required

• PhD Degree in Environmental Engineering, Geodesy, Mining, Geography, Remote Sensing, Hydrogeology, or related sciences
• scientific achievements documented by publications from the JCR list
• Proficiency in skills related to numerical hydrogeological modelling and land subsidence
• knowledge of issues related to InSAR (satellite radar interferometry)

• strong organizational skills for both personal and project work
• a passion for research, balanced with the ability to enjoy other important aspects of life
• predisposition to teaching work

Terms and Conditions:

Deadline: May 17th , 2024

Start date: July 1st , 2024.

Employment: Full-time PostDoc employment at AGH University, Cracow, Poland (40 hours/week on a task-based working time system) for the duration of the project.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

mail: [email protected]

address: Faculty Geo-data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, 30-359 Kraków, al. Mickiewicza 30, building C-4, room 113

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Environmental science

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Geosciences

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required

• PhD Degree in Environmental Engineering, Geodesy, Mining, Geography, Remote Sensing, Hydrogeology, or related sciences
• scientific achievements documented by publications from the JCR list
• Proficiency in skills related to numerical hydrogeological modelling and land subsidence
• knowledge of issues related to InSAR (satellite radar interferometry)

• strong organizational skills for both personal and project work
• a passion for research, balanced with the ability to enjoy other important aspects of life
• predisposition to teaching work

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

EngineeringEnvironmental scienceGeosciences

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Internal Application form(s) needed
Zgoda_rekrutacja_pracownik_EN.pdf
English
(305.69 KB - PDF)
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Additional Information
Additional comments

Documents Required:

• scientific CV and cover letter;
• list of publications (track record);
• copy of the doctoral degree.
• a document confirming language skills (English – at least B2 level) - applies to candidates for whom English is not the native language

The AGH University of Krakow does not require you to provide any information or data other than those resulting from the applicable law (name/names, surname, date of birth, contact details, education, professional qualifications, and employment history). However, if you choose to include your photograph or any other information, please fill in and attach this statement ofconsent to the processing of personal data, which constitutes an attachment to this information.

The controller of your personal data processed in order to carry out the recruitment process for the above-mentioned position is the AGH University of Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow. You can read all information concerning the processing of your personal data on the website of the AGH University of Krakow after going to the “Personal data protection” tab (https://www.agh.edu.pl/en/personal-data-protection ).

The University reserves the right not to settle the competition without providing any reason or justification. Winning the competition is not tantamount to ensuring the candidate's employment. The result of the competition serves solely as a recommendation to the Rector in this regard. The final decision concerning the employment will be made by the Rector.

 

Website for additional job details

https://www.agh.edu.pl/o-agh/praca-w-agh

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

AGH University of Krakow, Faculty Geo-data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, DEPARTMENT of Mining Areas Protection, Geoinformatics and Mine Surveying

Country

Poland

State/Province

MAŁOPOLSKA

City

KRAKÓW

Postal Code

30-059

Street

AL. A. MICKIEWICZA 30

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

Malopolska

City

Krakow

Website

https://www.agh.edu.pl/o-agh/praca-w-agh

Street

al. Mickiewicza 30

Postal Code

30-059

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

+48 12 617 22 68

STATUS: EXPIRED