[RS-ecology] position: Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing and Forest Mapping in Myanmar

[Martin Wegmann]

fyi

Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing and Forest Mapping in Myanmar

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Front Royal, VA

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI)
(https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation-ecology-center) is currently 
seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to be based at SCBI’s facilities in Front 
Royal, VA.

The three-year fellowship is funded by NASA LCLUC program and focuses on 
advancing SCBI’s ongoing forest mapping and remote sensing project in 
Myanmar. This collaborative and multi-disciplinary project seeks to 
integrate multiple remote sensing datasets (e.g. Landsat, PALSAR, 
Sentinel, and UAV data) with extensive field observations to map diverse 
forest types (e.g. intact natural forest, oil palm plantation, rubber 
plantation). The fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with 
Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF) at University of Maryland on 
continuous tree cover mapping, and political scientists and human 
geographers on studies of socioeconomic drivers of deforestation.
The successful candidate is expected to develop innovative research on 
forest mapping, data fusion, UAV data collecting and processing, and to 
publish science papers on the results. This position is unique in that 
it requires both substantial skills in organizing/ conducting ground 
truthing campaigns in Myanmar and in analyzing large remote sensing 
datasets. The fellow will be expected to spend extended periods of time 
in Myanmar to work with collaborators and conduct field campaigns.
The fellowship may also include work on designing and constructing an 
online platform to visualize and share data products. There will also be 
opportunities for the fellow to engage in teaching professional level 
GIS courses and mentoring student interns at SCBI.

The position will remain open until filled, with a desired start date of 
summer 2017.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Physical Geography, Remote 
Sensing, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Ecology, or a related 
field by the start date of the position. Must be able to work 
independently yet collegially in a team environment.
This appointment is renewable for up to three years. Renewing process is 
contingent upon satisfactory performance and NASA funding.

Specifically we look for:
1. Extensive experience in remote sensing using both optical and active 
remote sensing data;
2. Experience in organizing / conducting forestry survey using UAV;
3. Experience/Interest in collaborating with social scientists to use 
qualitative survey data to study anthropogenic drivers of deforestation.
Previous international experience is advantageous but not required.
Interested applicants should submit one pdf document including cover 
letter (stating preferred starting time), CV, and the names and contact 
information for 3 references to scbi.gis at gmail.com.

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is located at the north 
entrance of the Shenandoah National Park about 60 miles west of 
Washington, D.C., in Front Royal, VA. SCBI’s mission is to advance 
conservation of biological diversity. In meeting the Smithsonian 
Institution's mandate, SCBI increases knowledge through investigations 
of threatened species, habitats, and communities, and disseminates 
knowledge through advanced studies, professional training, and public 
outreach.


-- 
Dr. Martin Wegmann

University of Wuerzburg
Institute of Geography
Department of Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing and Biodiversity Research
Am Hubland
Oswald Kuelpe Weg 86
97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

German Aerospace Center (DLR)
German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD)

Phone:  +49-(0)931-31 83446
Email:  martin.wegmann at uni-wuerzburg.de

url: http://www.geographie.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/fernerkundung_neu/startseite/
url: http://www.dlr.de/caf