PhD fellow in interlinking remote sensing data and forest management

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at University of Copenhagen offers a PhD scholarship in the interdisciplinary area of interlinking remote sensing and forest management, commencing the 1st of September, 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Description of the scientific environment

The PhD project is an integral part of the LIFE Forest fit for Future project funded by the EU LIFE program. The task of developing new technologies for the sustainable management forests is based at the Section for Forest, Nature and Biomass, at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (https://ign.ku.dk/english/research/forest-nature-biomass/ ). LIFE Forest fit for Future is a collaborative project with a number of forest owners and forest managers and in close cooperation with the staff at IGN, including both forestry and remote sensing specialists. The successful applicant will thus join a strong interdisciplinary research environment.

Project description

The LIFE Forest Fit for Future project focuses on a substantial implementation of Close to Nature Forestry (CNF) especially for coniferous forest. Such forest management practices is expected to result in more heterogeneous forests that are less easily managed, requiring the development of novel methodologies for data collection on forest resources and planning tools for procurement of ecosystem services. This is expected to rely on interlinking of remote sensing data, field data and forest management. The successful applicant for the PhD position will work closely together with senior and junior scientists who are deeply engaged in the research field and in the project.

We are seeking a motivated and creative PhD candidate who display enthusiasm and good interpersonal and communication skills. Candidates with documented knowledge on forestry, statistics, remote sensing, deep learning, and GIS tools are preferred. Further, applicants with documented experience in completing scientific manuscripts will be prioritized. 

Principal supervisor is Thomas Nord-Larsen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management. E-mail: [email protected] .

Job description

The position is available for a 3-year period and your key tasks as a PhD student are:

• to independently design and execute experiments and manage data analysis,
• to record experimental results in a professional manner,
• to attend and pass PhD courses,
• to draft and submit research articles, as the primary author, to peer-reviewed journals,
• to write and submit a high-quality PhD thesis,
• to teach BSc and MSc students in courses and supervise in research laboratories,
• to disseminate the research results at conferences and workshops,
• to stay at an external research institution for a few months, preferably abroad,
• to participate in departmental, section and research group activities.

Formal requirements
Applicants should hold an MSc degree in forestry, geography or similar, and should

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 331,125 (approx. €43,750) including annual supplement (+ pension at a minimum DKK 53,811). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Application Procedure
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Cover letter. Please state your motivation and describe how your background contributes to the project.
• CV (maximum 2 pages).
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any).
• 1-3 reference letter (if any)

The university wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The deadline for applications is  Sunday 1 August 2021, 23:59 GMT +1.  Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. Afterwards an assessment committee will be appointed to evaluate the selected applications. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the committee and the final selection of a successful candidate will be made by the Head of Department, based on the recommendations of the assessment committee and the interview committee.

The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant and the above mentioned skills. The successful candidate will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science.

You can read more about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Questions
For specific information about the PhD scholarship, please contact the principal supervisor Thomas Nord-Larsen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, [email protected] .

General information about PhD programmes at SCIENCE is available at https://www.science.ku.dk/phd .

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.