Postdoctoral fellow within remote sensing of forest biodiversity

About the position

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant three-year postdoctoral position related to remote sensing of forest biodiversity. The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from NMBU and University of Oslo in the BioDivAbove (https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/projects/biodiversity-mapping-forests-above-biodivabove) project, funded by the Research Council of Norway. 

The main objective is to develop a method for predicting biodiversity in boreal forests. The purpose is to give forest managers improved management tools to mitigate species loss. This will be achieved by connecting remotely sensed data and ground biodiversity surveys primarily based on eDNA.

 Our new colleague will contribute by developing airborne laser scanning (ALS) and multispectral imagery-based methods for predicting forest structure, deadwood as well as nutrient and moisture gradients. The postdoctoral fellow will also be central for exploring possible direct links between biodiversity and remotely sensed data derived at different scales and produce a wall-to-wall map of biodiversity of our demonstration area. 

Main tasks

The main tasks of the position will be:

• Evaluate the possibilities of proximal and remote sensing for deadwood prediction 
• Model nutrient and moisture gradients in the landscape using remote sensing
• Evaluate the possibility to predict forest successional stages using remote sensing
• Explore relation between remotely sensed data and biodiversity as recorded by eDNA
• Publish scientific papers and interact with stakeholders

Competence

Required Academic qualifications

• PhD within remote sensing, forest sciences, natural resource management, ecology or related fields
• Competence  in analysis in remote sensing data
• Competence in statistics and advanced analytic methods

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Experience with use and processing of airborne laser scanning data and aerial imagery for forestry or ecological applications
• Experience from research on boreal forest ecosystems
• Experience in programming (R, Python)
• Experience from field work in boreal forests
• Driver's license

You need to have:

• Strong scientific capacity and analytical skills 
• Curiosity and eagerness to explore new research ideas
• Good social and collaboration skills 
• Ability to work independently 
• Strong English capabilities, both oral and written 

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow (NOK 604 900 - 796 600) depending on qualifications. The position follows ordinary meriting regulations.

For further information, please contact Associate Professor Hans Ole Ørka, E-mail: hans.ole.orka@nmbu.no; phone +47 95240197 or Professor Tone Birkemoe tone.birkemoe@nmbu.no; phone +47 92049331

Information to applicants (https://www.nmbu.no/om/adm/poa/rekruttering/viktig-informasjon-for-s-kere/information-for-jobseekers-at-nmbu)

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 04.04.2025

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as most relevant must be attached to the application. If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant's part of the work is suggested. 

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 04.04.2025. Please quote reference number 25/01238.

Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.

Please note that the report from the expert committee will be sent to all applicants.

About The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management

The Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA) works with nature and the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, biological and geological processes.

MINA's employees undertake teaching, research and dissemination within the fields of geology, hydrology and limnology, soil science, environmental chemistry, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, renewable energy, and nature-based tourism.

Our vision is to be a key actor in knowledge production and dissemination, and our goal is to deliver research of high, international quality, and varied and excellent teaching. The faculty's employees are significant participants within their respective fields of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The faculty is dominated by a vital research culture and high levels of scientific production.

The faculty has about 200 employees, 90 PhD students and 650 students.

Read more about MINA here (https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/mina).