Postdoctoral fellow

Job description

Postdoctoral fellowship: 3D laser scanning of tropical forest structure dynamics across a rainfall and altitudinal gradient

CAVElab is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on a newly funded project by FWO: “Making (remote) sense of tropical forest structure dynamics across a rainfall and altitudinal gradient.”

About CAVElab: Our lab is part of Ghent University in Belgium and studies vegetation dynamics, carbon and water cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. CAVElab has a strong focus on all types of terrestrial ecosystems, including projects on tropical and temperate forests, drylands and urban ecosystems. Process-based vegetation modelling and 3D forest reconstructions are our core research tools, the questions arising from the modelling work require dedicated fieldwork activities.

About the project: Making (remote) sense of tropical forest structure dynamics across a rainfall and altitudinal gradient. Forests absorb 30% of current annual CO2 emissions through photosynthesis and growth, with tropical forests storing the majority of global live biomass in forests. However, due to climate warming, their ability to act as carbon sinks is uncertain, and they could even become carbon sources as trees stressed by climate extremes die and release their carbon back into the ecosystem. Here we will work within a permanent tropical forest plot network in Australia that spans both a rainfall and altitudinal gradient. This research project aims to improve our understanding of aboveground biomass dynamics in tropical forests using a novel multi-scale terrestrial and UAV laser scanning approach. The project's main research objectives are methodological, developing new allometric models and a multi-scale laser scanning approach, and ecological, understanding aboveground biomass dynamics, and assessing the impact of rainfall and altitude on biomass dynamics. The project's results will provide detailed insight into the 3D dynamics of vegetation at a large scale, and they will contribute to predicting, monitoring, and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Your role in the project: Your main tasks will involve a 3-month fieldwork campaign in Australia (June-August 2024) collecting terrestrial laser scans (TLS) and assisting CSIRO with the collection of drone laser scanning data. Using this data, you will develop new allometric models using TLS as calibration data and dynamic scaling forms. By integrating TLS and drone laser scanning data, you will develop a multi-scale laser scanning approach to upscale AGB estimates to spatial scales exceeding the typical size of monitoring plots. Furthermore, you will take a leading role in the overall management of the project.

Job profile

Profile of the candidate:

• A PhD degree in a relevant field (Bio-Engineering, Forestry, Remote Sensing, Surveying, Physics, Geosciences, Environmental sciences, Computer Science). The conditions of the fellowship stipulate that the PhD degree cannot be obtained at a Belgian university and the candidate cannot have resided in Belgium for more than 24 months in the past 3 years.
• Prior experience with organising and conducting fieldwork. Keen to carry out fieldwork in tropical forest (3 months in the period June-August 2024)
• Familiar with (terrestrial) laser scanning
• A keen interest in forest ecology
• Knowledge of programming languages such as R, Matlab or Python
• Familiar with the linux/unix environment and handling large datasets is a plus
• A good command of English, both written and oral
• Demonstrated scientific writing through high-quality publications
• Willingness to collaborate and be a team player with good communication skills.
• Interested in developing their leadership skills and supervision of PhD students.
  
  

Our offer:

• A full-time postdoctoral fellowship contract (24 months with possible extension)
• Tentative starting date: April 1, 2024
• The successful candidate will be based in Ghent
• Position with a strong research focus (80%), 10% project management and 10% supervising of PhD students & teaching support
• 36 days annual leave per full calendar year, full benefits on www.ugent.be/en/work/talent/next-steps/employeebenefits.htm
• Collaboration in a young and dynamic international scientific team
• Opportunities to present your work at scientific conferences
• Opportunities to develop scientific leadership
• Please mention your favourite animal in your motivation letter so we can check that you at least read this vacancy in full

How to apply

Application submission (CV and application letter) through this google form: https://forms.gle/BZDh6NQcj7VSm1vF7 | Application deadline: Feb 9, 2024 (midnight, Belgium time) | Interviews (online): Late Feb 2024
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More information
Prof. Kim Calders | kim.calders@ugent.be | www.cavelab.ugent.be