Doctoral Candidate Spatial statistics for integrating IoT field sensor data and remote sensing data for nature-inclusive solutions in tree crop diseases

ph3Doctoral Candidate Spatial statistics for integrating IoT field sensor data and remote sensing data for nature-inclusive solutions in tree crop diseases /h3pLooking for a job that matters? Join the university of technology that puts people first – and shape new opportunities both for yourself and for ou... /ppThe University of Twente, Faculty ITC, wishes to increase the number of women in the faculty to have a more balanced staff profile. During all phases of the selection process, we will therefore prioritize selecting women who fit the profile. /ppThe Dutch government, through the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, has responded to the current global environmental challenges by establishing sector plan positions in critical scientific domains. At the Department of Environmental Resources, one of our activities is to address these challenges by developing and applying Geostatistical models for bridging knowledge gaps, data scarcity and uncertainty gaps, and governance gaps related to monitoring the environment on which humans depend. /ppA part of this is bspatial statistics of sensor data integration for nature-inclusive solutions /bbfor /b monitoring stress and diseases of tree cropsb. /b Tree crops like cocoa, apart from their direct economic functions for smallholder farmers, sit at the intersection of many beneficial ecological functions (including carbon sequestration and cultural identity). However, these functions are threatened by environmental stressors and diseases such as Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV) disease, which depend on the complex web of interactions between and within above-ground and below-ground biotic and abiotic factors. The prevailing data and methodological gaps that have perpetuated knowledge gaps in the spatial and spatiotemporal patterns of tree disease, and the widened governance gaps of farms, have motivated this topic. /ppYou will develop spatial statistical methods to integrate ground-based IoT sensor data, remote sensing data, and in-situ data for mapping the spatial trends of cocoa diseases. You will be involved in setting up an IoT sensor network in cocoa farms in Ghana. You are expected to address data integration challenges, including (1) spatial misalignment of networks, (2) temporal misalignments of observations, (2) probabilistic or likelihood misalignments, and (3) data quality issues, such as uncertainties in measurements, sparsity of network coverage resulting in small N, missing data resulting from malfunction of sensors, and outliers. For the purposes of evaluating model transferability, you will make a comparison with other economically important tree crops in food forests in the Netherlands. You will design a measurement setup for cocoa trees and review the wide range of applications of IoT sensors, their uncertainties, and the observable variables above and below ground that are important for predicting tree crop diseases and stresses. You will also explore simulation scenarios to evaluate the impact of indigenous and formal farming management practices on plant diseases. /ph3Your profile /h3ulliAn MSc related to geoinformation science and earth observation, spatial and spatiotemporal modelling, spatial statistics, and/or machine learning. You enjoy applying these modelling skills to analyse and explain interactions within environmental and ecological systems /liliAble to handle and integrate multi-temporal and multi-spatial data from multiple sources, including earth observation data, IoT-based sensor data, and in situ data /liliComfortable with programming or scripting in Python or R for data analysis and for bringing your models to the data /liliGood communication skills and an excellent command of the English language /liliEnjoy engaging in team science with project and societal partners /liliWilling to travel and to collect data in the field; familiarity with cocoa farming in Ghana is an advantage given the required interaction with local managers. /liliMotivated to contribute to knowledge dissemination and uptake activities for societal partners while also embracing Open Science and FAIR data principles /liliA passion for education in an international classroom. /liliInterested in developing educational materials and teaching topics related to spatial modelling and understanding interactions in environmental systems. /liliA dedicated and considerate advisor for MSc students. /li /ulh3Our offer /h3ulliAn inspiring multidisciplinary, international and academic environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda /liliFull-time position for four years with a qualifier after 6 – 9 months /liliA professional and personal development programme within Twente Graduate School /liliGross monthly salary of € 3,204.00 in the first year, which increases to € 4,051.00 in the fourth year /liliA holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3% /liliExcellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development /liliA total of 41 holiday days per year in the case of full-time employment /liliExcellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, and a green and lively campus. /li /ulpScreening is part of the selection procedure. /ppFor questions about working and living in the Netherlands, please consult the official website of the Dutch Government or the Expat Center East Netherlands website. /ph3About the department /h3pEnvironmental Resources are crucial to maintaining the well-being of societies. Sustainable management of these natural resources balances the needs of people and the environment. It avoids the depletion, degradation, and destruction of ecosystems, prevents biodiversity loss and soil erosion, and mitigates the impacts of climate change. Our research, education, and partnerships empower society to effectively use insights from geo-information and Earth observation technologies to sustainably manage the environment. The outcome is an increased understanding of the processes that affect the availability, stability, quality, and sustainability of natural resources, enabling their preservation, sustainable use, development, or restoration. Our academic staff, PhD candidates, and MSc students focus on developing both the means and the measurements essential for monitoring /ph3About the organisation /h3pThe Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC)provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation. Our mission is capacity development, where we apply, share and facilitate the effective use of geo-information and earth observation knowledge and tools for tackling global wicked problems. Our purpose is to enable our many partners around the world to track and trace the impact – and the shifting causes and frontiers – of today’s global challenges. Our vision is of a world in which researchers, educators, and students collaborate across disciplinary and geographic divides with governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutes, businesses, and local populations to surmount today’s complex global challenges and to contribute to sustainable, fair, and digital societies. /ph3Job details /h3pTitle /ppDoctoral Candidate Spatial statistics for integrating IoT field sensor data and remote sensing data for nature-inclusive solutions in tree crop diseases /ppPublished /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr