Post-Doctoral Scientist on Remote Sensing

Post-Doctoral Scientist on Remote Sensing (Ref: 13-44 SRS/IRS/HQ/SSA)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and resourceful young scientist to work on remote sensing and applications to agriculture in a project to be developed in Peru and East Africa.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

The Position: This position will be based in Lima, Peru for the first year and Kampala, Uganda during the second year. It will report to the Production Systems and Environment Sub Program Leader. The candidate is expected to contribute to the Project “Remote Sensing as a Monitoring Tool for Smallholder’s Cropping Area Determination in Tanzania and Uganda using Sweetpotato as a Pilot Crop” which is financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Duties and responsibilities: The candidate is expected to lead/contribute to the following research and communication tasks:

• Collect ground-based reflectance measurements and changes due to crop phenology, to build the library containing spectral signatures of target crops (Sweetpotato, potato, cassava, beans, maize and bananas) and other vegetation with similar spectral signatures.
• A careful characterization of reflectance and passive fluorescence of the most important crops to assess options for the construction of specific sensors in the future.
• Assessment of the impact of the attenuation of the reflectance due to atmospheric conditions, during key phenological stages of the sweetpotato crop.
• Build and share a reference library of spectral signatures for target crops and selected non- cultivated vegetation.
• Adapt algorithms for geometric and radiometric corrections to the platforms and sensors we will test, generating mosaics (by warping the images to a high resolution) and other pre- processing requirements.
• Based on the use of drones, acquire digital, multi and hyper spectral images at different altitudes.
• Process signals registered for target crops and selected non-cultivated vegetation, to determine the best discrimination period.
• Select most appropriate digital processing methods for discriminating among sweetpotato varieties and from other crops and vegetation communities using different image types acquired at different altitudes.
• Conduct baseline mapping of sweetpotato in target sites using commercial satellite images.
• Validate and improve the existing sampling framework for sweetpotato statistics in the two target sites.
• Take high-resolution data in sampling sites using UAV-based platform.
• Development and application of airborne remote sensing and digital processing tools and software.
• Produce sweetpotato statistics in the project areas by improving the spatial resolution of medium-to-coarse resolution remotely sensed data through innovative data fusion algorithms that take advantages of the details obtained in sampling sites using the UAV-platforms blended 
with guided ground thruthing.
• Contribute to the preparation of scientific papers based on the conducted work.
• Contribute to capacity building activities.
• Any other related task assigned by the supervisor.

Selection Criteria:

• PhD degree in geomatics/geospatial technology or related disciplines (engineering, physics, applied mathematics or computer science) obtained no earlier than 2009.
• At least two publications in international and peer-reviewed journals related to the research terms of reference of this call.
• High level of computer skills with knowledge in C++, MatLab, IDL/ENVI, R programming language and experience in Linux are required.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent interpersonal relationships skills and teamwork orientation.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a two year term (with a three month probation period) with possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience.

CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to cip-recruitment@cgiar.org. The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message. Screening of applications will begin on October 03, 2013 and will continue until the post is filled.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.

Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply.

To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/