Geographic Information Specialist

LSE & Oxford University Urbanisation in Developing Economies Programme
Project Manager, Research Economists & Data Specialists Required

A major joint research programme on urbanisation in developing economies, with particular reference to Africa, has been launched at LSE’s Spatial Economics Research Centre and Oxford’s Department of Economics, with support from the World Bank.  Profs. Vernon Henderson (LSE) Paul Collier and Tony Venables (Oxford) are recruiting a Research Manager, Research Economists and GIS Data Specialists to work on the programme.  This will involve conceptual and econometric work on the overall urbanization process in developing countries and on the internal development of cities, in particular large African cities. There will be intensive use of satellite data (to classify land use), night lights data, demographic census data, DHS data, survey data, mapping and planning data.  The programme offers outstanding opportunities to contribute to cutting edge research in the field, based in two of Europe’s leading social science research and training institutions.

We have a number of fixed-term research posts at both the LSE and Oxford, operating for two years in the first instance unless otherwise stated.  Whilst short-listed candidates can express a preference at application stage for either institution, applicants must be willing to be based at either of the two institutions, according to the needs of the project.

Geographic  Information Specialist (one or more posts for two years in first instance)

Salary is from £29,837 and £39,669 according to qualifications and experience and whether location is Oxford or LSE. For exceptional candidates, there may be the possibility to increase this up to a maximum £42,684
Please note that the minimum salary point is the bottom of Oxford salary scale and the maximum salary is the top of the LSE salary scale

You will demonstrate either: work experience leading to proficient use of satellite data and a Masters in quantitative social or physical sciences passed at a level allowing acceptance on the PhD, or a completed or nearly completed PhD in quantitative social or physical sciences.

You will be responsible for research design in the use of satellite data and for incorporating mapping of infrastructure and socio-economic information into data sets. You will be experienced in the use of spectral and textural technique; and advanced research experience in managing large data sets and electronic resources and in the use of spatial statistical techniques and statistical packages such as STATA is essential. As well as writing papers on the use of high resolution satellite imagery of African cities to classify urban land uses and the built environment into multiple categories, you will also have opportunity to develop a related broader research agenda of your own. You will also have experience of data work and have the ability to author/co-author papers of refereed journal article quality.

The other criteria that will be used when shortlisting for this post can be found on the person specification which is attached to the vacancy on the LSE’s online recruitment system.

To apply for this post, please go to www.lse.ac.uk/JobsatLSE and select “Vacancies”.  If you have any queries about applying on the online system, please e-mail:  hr.jobs@lse.ac.uk quoting reference 1416296. Although all applications are to be submitted through the LSE recruitment portal, the recruitment and selection process is being jointly handled by both LSE and Oxford and any final employment offers will be from one of the two institutions.

Applications must be received by 10 June 2014 (11.59pm, UK time). Interviews will be held at the LSE around two weeks after the application deadline.

We value diversity and wish to promote equality at all levels