Tenure Track Position for a Scientist on “Remote Sensing in Landscape Research”

ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and, with its 350 employees, one of the largest research institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Its mission as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. As a contribution to overcoming global challenges such as climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation and resource scarcity, we develop and design crop systems that combine food security with sustainability in the landscape context. For its integrated systems research, ZALF processes complex landscape data with a unique set of experimental methods, new technologies and models as well as socio-economic approaches.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with essential expertise by providing a guaranteed transitioning to a permanent contract subject to successful evaluation.

Call description

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites candidates with the ambition to use the full range of remote sensing technologies (satellite-borne, airborne, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)) to describe and analyse landscape structures in the context of environmental and agricultural research in an innovative way, e.g., to assess matter fluxes and turnover rates (e.g., evapotranspiration or photosynthesis). Working within the ZALF Research Platform Data Analysis and Simulation, the successful candidate will use modern data science approaches to merge remote sensing products with other scientific and agricultural management data in regard to agroecosystem modelling, ecosystem services and biodiversity, agricultural and grassland management, or socioeconomic aspects.

The call is addressed to dynamic and highly motivated, preferably early career researchers with a PhD in agricultural, geo-, or environmental sciences and with sound experience in using remote sensing (especially UAS) in a scientific context, including the processing of raw data, sensor calibration and maintenance. Basic knowledge of geostatistics and multi-variate statistics as well as basic skills in computer coding are mandatory. Candidates must have demonstrated their capacity to independently carry out research, including an excellent publication record, successfully acquired competitive third-party funding, and visibility in their respective field of research. Previous experience in applying advanced statistical approaches like machine learning techniques, wavelet transformation, etc. would be an asset.

The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 2-3 years) with progress to the subsequent phase subject to successful evaluation. If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts, they may enter the Fast Tenure Track if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled.

Tenure contracts are generally offered as full-time contracts, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career. Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, depending on the personal situation up to the level of E14. The working place is in Müncheberg near Berlin, Germany. The successful candidate will be offered individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses and trainings as well as variable options to access scientific resources.

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favoured.