Background
Ecosystem Restoration (ER) is important to reverse biodiversity loss and is a critical element of nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security, and disaster risk reduction. ER investments must be data-driven, requiring historical information on ecosystem disturbance and degradation, to enable planning of interventions, which are then monitored for their impact.
This 20-month Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) position will conduct applied research in the application of remote sensing data to support ER. This position is unique in that the successful applicant will work both at UBC and Hatfield Consultants in Vancouver, Canada, as well as with partners in Europe and internationally as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) Pioneer Earth Observation Applications for the Environment (PEOPLE) project.
The successful candidate will participate in the development and evaluation of remote sensing approaches to assess ER at demonstration sites in Canada and internationally. They will develop and apply algorithms targeting remote sensed essential biodiversity variables (RS-EBV) products applicable to forest and wetland biomes. The project will assess how RS-EBVs can be used to assess recovery following a disturbance, including natural or active ER processes. Challenges include how to differentiate recovery signals from other dynamic processes (e.g., meteorological conditions, seasonal conditions, climate long-term variability, human actions). The PDF will contribute to project related reporting, produce publications, and presentations at international workshops/conferences. A key component of the position will be to collaborate as a member of the multidisciplinary team and the RS-EBV community of practice including the European Space Agency.
Successful applicants should:
- Hold a Relevant PhD degree (e.g., remote sensing, computer science, computer vision, data science, or forestry with a strong technical background) and an interest in the forest sector.
- Strong programming skills in Python or similar.
- Documented track-record in publishing high-quality scientific papers within the field of the position.
- Have excellent oral and written communication skills with a strong publication record.
Details
The candidate will be based at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada under the supervision of Professor Nicholas Coops. Applicants should send a letter explaining their motivation and relevant skill set, a CV and the names of three references to nicholas.coops@ubc.ca
We will consider applications until the position is filled. The ideal start date would be in 2022 with January 2023 being the latest possible start date. The position is for a fixed length of 20 months but with possible extension or a permanent position with Hatfield.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.