Geospatial Modeler and Remote Sensing (w/m/d)

External Job Announcement

Reg.-Nr. 4-401/23-D

Modern, interconnected, conscious of tradition: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) is

the oldest and largest university in the State of Saxony-Anhalt with a history dating back more than

500 years. Today more than 20,000 students are enrolled at the university. MLU’s core research areas

are in the nanosciences and biosciences, the Enlightenment, as well as in social and cultural research.

The university is also home to a range of small disciplines, some of which can be found nowhere else

in Germany. The university has excellent national and international ties, and works closely together

with leading research institutes, industry, and more than 250 universities around the world.

The Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, in cooperation with the German Centre for Integrative

Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, offers the following 1-year position with possibility of

renewal, starting as soon as possible (023):

Geospatial Modeler and Remote Sensing for the European Topic Center

on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC-BE) (m-f-d)

as full-time employment.

The salary will be up to Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L if the personal requirements and tasks are fulfilled. This

position will be based at iDiv in Leipzig within the Biodiversity Conservation research group.

The project and research group:

The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig is a National

Research Centre funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Its central mission is to promote

theory-driven synthesis and data-driven theory in integrative biodiversity research. It is located in the

city of Leipzig and it is a central institution of the Leipzig University, jointly hosted by the Martin Luther

University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Helmholtz Centre for

Environmental Research (UFZ). More information about iDiv: www.idiv.de .

This position is affiliated with the Biodiversity Conservation Professorship of Prof. Henrique Pereira.

The successful candidate will join a new ETC-BE team coordinated by Prof. Pereira and Dr. Néstor

Fernández. The Biodiversity Conservation group investigates patterns and processes of global

biodiversity change, with the goal of informing environmental policy and management of ecosystems.

For more information, please visit our lab website:

www.idiv.de/research/idiv_core_groups/biodiversity_conservation.html.

This position is funded by the European Environment Agency (EEA) European Topic Centre on

Biodiversity and Ecosystems 2023-2026 Program (ETC-BE).ETC-BE aims to support the EEA with

updated information on biodiversity and ecosystems, mostly through co-creation, and thus support

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the EEA with the next generation of thematic and integrated biodiversity and ecosystem assessments

as well as identification of actionable nature-based solutions. Thereby, the joint work of the EEA and

ETC BE will support the implementation of the Green Deal. The job will be performed in collaboration

with a large consortium of partner institutions and organizations across Europe.

The position aims at developing and advancing the science required for the integration of information

from the different information streams supporting the European Nature Directives, Nature Restoration

Law, Protected Areas Reporting, and other aspects related to the ETC-BE reporting requirements using

state-of-the-art modeling and statistical techniques. This position will be a part of a wider ETC-BE-iDiv

technical and scientific team and the post holders will be required to promote and maintain a

transversal view of related tasks.

Tasks:

• Analyzing methodologies to monitor ecosystem condition using remote sensing, including

Copernicus data

• Research on Essential Biodiversity Variables workflows

• Research on mapping of potential forest restoration and supporting the work on forest condition

assessments for the implementation of the European Nature Restoration Law

• Research on extent, distribution and connectivity of existing and potential old growth forest sites

across Europe, within and outside protected areas and forest habitats areas

• Coordinating the assessment and development of methodologies for mapping and monitoring

EUNIS habitat types by integrating remote sensing with other sources of information

• Writing research articles on the work carried out

Requirements:

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Scientific University degree (Diploma/M.Sc.) in Geography, natural sciences, computer science or

related fields

• PhD degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Biodiversity Informatics, or a related field is a plus

• Extensive knowledge of state-of-the-art spatial and statistical modeling techniques accompanied

by strong programming skills in Python and/or R

• demonstrated experience in machine learning modeling is advantageous

• Demonstrated experience in state-of-the-art remote sensing of vegetation

• Demonstrated ability in handling and analyzing large geo-spatial biodiversity data from different

sources and with different levels of uncertainty

• Demonstrated scientific writing skills

• self-driven and highly motivated, organized and willing to perform both research and

administrative duties

• Strong interpersonal skills, a sense of diplomacy and a collaborative spirit

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and an eye for details

• Fluency in English
  

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The Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg gives priority to applications from severely disabled

candidates with equivalent qualifications. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants

with a degree that was not obtained at a German higher education institution must submit a Statement

of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications from the Central Office for Foreign

Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) to prove equivalence.

Queries concerning the application process should be directed to hr@idiv.de. For queries about the

research project please contact hpereira@idiv.de.

Please submit your full application dossier only in English with registration number 4-401/23-D until

02.02.2023.Applications should be submitted via our iDiv application portal at https://apply.idiv.de.

Applications should include motivation letter tailored to call, curriculum vitae, a digital copy of the

highest academic degree (e.g. PhD), publication record and contact from two independent referees.

Application portfolios will not be returned, application costs will not be reimbursed.

iDiv is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive community that collectively

supports and implements our mission to do great science. We will welcome, recruit, develop and

advance talented staff from diverse genders and backgrounds.

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