Postdoctal Fellow – Remote Sensing,Arlington, Virginia

The mission and objectives of the Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network (see www.teamnetwork.org) to monitor and forecast changes in biodiversity require integration of biodiversity data with spatially coherent data layers over large areas of the globe.  This post-doctoral position will advance the remote sensing component of the TEAM Network by developing and applying standardized, efficient protocols for repeated monitoring of land cover change at landscape, regional and global scales for the humid tropics.  The Fellow will participate in TEAM activities with priority given to intergration and analyses of forest cover with other data sets. In addition, the postdoctoral fellow is expected to conduct research and apply complex modeling techniques to advance understanding of projected impacts of land cover change and climate change on biodiversity in tropical forests.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and apply algorithms and develop and implement standardized protocols for detecting locations of rapid deforestation on 2-5 year time scales in tropical humid forests using satellite imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors in combination with higher resolution imagery.
• Develop and implement efficient, standardized protocols for monitoring and quantifying landscape-scale land cover change in order to interpret plot-based biodiversity measurements and to identify suitable areas for sampling.  
• Participate in and conduct global analyses of projected climate change and land cover change impacts on biodiversity.
• Prepare technical manuals and peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Integrate analyses of forest cover with other data sets, at a range of scales.
• Deliver technical presentations to scientific audiences.

Working Conditions:

• Normal office environment.
• Periodic field work in remote, tropical loations is required (up to 20%).
• Occasionall evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or for travel.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Skills:

• Ph.D. in geography, ecology, biology, environmental sciences, statistics, computer science, or a related scientific field, with an emphasis on remote sensing and land cover change.
• Strong, demonstrated skills in modeling, spatial analysis, GIS, and Python and SQL programming.
• Experience working with a variety of remote sensing data products (e.g., MODIS, Landsat, ASTER) and with image processing methods and software.
• Experience with land cover change model and algorithm development and programming.

Preferred Skills:

• Speaking ability in Spanish, Portuguese, or French preferred.

APPLICANTS SHOULD SEND: Cover letter, resume and references.