Postdoc scholarship (2 years) within remote sensing of permafrost landforms

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science is offering a postdoctoral scholarship on mapping of permafrost peat plateaus and degradation trajectories. The scholarship is full-time for two years with access 1 March, 2025 or by agreement. Application deadline is the 14th of January, 2025.

Departmental information
Our department is producing outstanding research in Arctic ecology and Arctic geosciences. We offer excellent development opportunities for young scientists to specialize in these fields, for example through the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC). Over the past years, we have built a laboratory for remote sensing and unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs; or drones) within the department. The lab consists of multiple fixed wing and quadcopters UAVs, mountable sensors (multispectral, hyperspectral) and data-processing infrastructure (high-performance computers, super-computer access).

Project description
This project aims to improve the mapping of palsa and peat plateau landforms (hereafter peat plateaus) and changes in their extent across Sweden, Fennoscandia and the Arctic. Peat plateaus store large amounts of organic carbon and occur at the southern rim of the permafrost region. Peat plateaus are degrading at tremendous rates due to thermal erosion of the permafrost at their core. In this project, we will use a combination of remote sensing and AI to better constrain the extent of peat plateaus. We will aim to study the long-term evolution of peat plateaus based on UAV, orthophoto and satellite data and combine this knowledge with information on greenhouse gas budgets. You have the opportunity to further develop an existing deep learning segmentation model to map peat plateaus across large regions.

Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

We are seeking a candidate with a doctoral degree within physical geography, remote sensing, GIS, ecology, geosciences or related fields. We are looking for a creative and motivated person with excellent skills in processing of remote sensing data. You should be able to structure your data evaluation independently. Prior experience with processing of remote sensing data using python, R and/or Google Earth Engine, processing of large quantities of data, applying and developing deep learning, machine learning and AI methods in remote sensing, processing and collection of UAV data are all complementary merits. A background in research on permafrost regions and Arctic ecosystems are a merit but not necessary. Good oral and written communication skills in English, strong publication skills, and the ability to collaborate within the work group and with outside collaborators are important.

Application
The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 14th of January, 2025.

• A cover letter describing your scientific background, interest in the project and your suitability (max. 2 pages)
• A CV, including a list of your publications
• Copies of your doctoral thesis and other relevant publications (maximum 5)
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained, and other relevant degree certificates
• Contact information for at least two reference persons
• Any other documents you wish to refer to

Further information
The Postdoctoral fellow will be placed in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, and will be advised by Assoc. Prof. Matthias Siewert. The stipend is financed by the Kempe foundation and runs for two years. The scholarship amounts to 350 000 SEK per year (around 28 500 euro). The scholarship is not subject to tax.

Questions can be directed to Dr. Matthias Siewert: matthias.siewert@umu.se

We look forward to receiving your application!