Ph.D. Fellow in remote sensing and modeling of alpine vegetation changes

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

UiB shall be among Europe's leading universities, internationally known for high quality in research and education. As a social institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place of study and work.

Video: https://youtu.be/M5n6RnScNgAFellow

At the Department of Biosciences, University of Bergen, there is a vacancy for a Ph.D. fellow in remote sensing and modeling of alpine vegetation changes. The position is for a period of three years, with the possibility of a fourth year consisting of career-advancing work, including teaching and other tasks at the department.

Planned start is February 1, 2027.

The position is linked to the research team Mountains-in-Motion, led by Associate Professor Suzette Flantua.

About the project/tasks:

Alpine ecosystems are changing rapidly. In many mountain areas, shrubs are encroaching into previously open vegetation as a result of climate warming, changed land use, and reduced grazing pressure. This expansion can significantly change habitat structure, biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and the cultural value of open mountain landscapes. Willow (Salix spp.) is among the most widespread and ecologically important shrubs in Norwegian alpine environments. However, the pace, spatial patterns, and underlying drivers for the expansion of willow scrub are still insufficiently understood. Long-term observations are few, and the relative effects of climate, topography, and land-use history are rarely investigated across spatial and temporal scales.

The Ph.D. project will combine historical aerial photographs, satellite-based remote sensing, ecological field observations, and spatial modeling to map the expansion of willow scrub in different parts of Norway from recent decades to the present day. The project will then investigate environmental and land-use factors associated with these changes and develop projections of possible future vegetation changes. The research will contribute to a better understanding of how alpine landscapes respond to interacting climatic and anthropogenic influences. It will also provide spatially explicit information relevant to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, and the preservation of culturally valued mountain landscapes.

The Ph.D. project will be closely linked to other interdisciplinary projects in the Mountains-in-Motion research team and to national and international partners within biodiversity, biogeography, macroecology, remote sensing, landscape ecology, pollination, and landscape modeling. The work is part of a broader effort to understand the past, present, and future of alpine and mountain environments worldwide.

The detailed research plan will be further developed by the appointee, in collaboration with the supervisory team.

Main tasks

The appointee shall:

• develop and evaluate image classification workflows to identify willow scrub and other relevant vegetation classes from various remote sensing sensors
• plan and conduct ecological fieldwork and remote sensing-related fieldwork in Norwegian mountain areas
• integrate remote sensing data with field observations and environmental data
• quantify spatial and temporal changes in willow cover, density, and landscape configuration using advanced geospatial methods
• investigate climatic, topographic, and land-use-related drivers for the expansion of willow scrub
• develop spatially explicit projections of future vegetation changes
• manage and document research data and code in accordance with FAIR principles
• communicate results through scientific publications, conference presentations, and dissemination activities
• apply for support for travel and dissemination activities
• participate actively in the Mountains-in-Motion research team, the terrestrial ecology research group, and the broader professional environment at the Department of Biosciences and the University of Bergen

Qualifications and attributes:

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• have obtained a master's degree or equivalent education in ecology, geography, geosciences, or another relevant field, or have submitted the master's thesis for evaluation before the application deadline. It is a prerequisite that the master's degree is obtained before employment can take place.
• solid experience from or competence in GIS and remote sensing and/or geospatial analysis related to landscape dynamics in mountain areas is a requirement.
• experience from or competence in processing and analysis of remote sensing data or other spatially explicit environmental data is a requirement.
• have knowledge of environmental processes in mountain areas, alpine ecology, and/or vegetation changes is a requirement.
• experience from or competence in the use of R, Python, or similar tools for programming and analysis is a requirement.
• be able to document the ability to contribute constructively to teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• must be able to work independently and structured and have good collaborative skills.
• have good written and oral English skills

One or more of the following qualifications will be an advantage:

• experience from or competence in
• spatial modeling, landscape analysis, or connectivity analysis
• machine learning or deep learning methods for geospatial analyses
• ecological fieldwork or remote sensing-related fieldwork, especially in alpine environments
• Google Earth Engine, geodatabases, or cloud-based processing of geospatial data
• reproducible workflows, scientific data management, or FAIR principles, e.g., GitHub
• research dissemination or visualization of spatial and environmental data
• scientific publications, reports, or other documented research results

Personal and interpersonal qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of candidates.

Special requirements for the position

UiB is subject to export control regulations, and these regulations apply when processing applications for the position. If necessary, UiB will apply for an export license before an offer of employment is made.

The following applies to the position:

About the position as a Ph.D. Fellow

The fellowship period is three years, with the possibility of a fourth year depending on the candidate's qualifications and the department's need for teaching, and is decided by the department head upon appointment. If a fourth year is decided, one year's worth of work consisting of career-advancing work related to teaching, dissemination, and research infrastructure/services will be distributed over the total employment period and thus correspond to 25% of the time each year.

If you have previously been employed in a recruitment position (fellow, research assistant, or similar), a deduction may be made from the employment period.

About the doctoral education

As a Ph.D. fellow, you will participate in an approved educational program for a Ph.D. degree within a timeframe of three years. The deadline to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is two months after starting the position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the Ph.D. degree. It is a prerequisite that you meet the requirements for admission to Ph.D. studies at the University of Bergen.

We offer:

• a positive, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and academically stimulating work environment, conferences, and gatherings
• salary as a fellow (code 1017) in accordance with the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 593,700. Further increments occur according to seniority in the position
• membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens pensjonskasse)
• Good welfare schemes

The application must include:

• a motivation letter that includes:
• a detailed justification of your qualifications in relation to the listed requirements, and how you meet each criterion. Additionally, you should address the mentioned advantages, as these will be considered in the ranking of candidates
• how you believe you will contribute to the Mountains-in-Motion research team
• a short summary (max. one page, excl. references) of how you envision the Ph.D. project as a research plan
• a detailed CV
• names and contact information for two references. One of these should be the main supervisor from the master's thesis or equivalent
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, you must provide a confirmation from your institution that the master's thesis has been submitted
• relevant certificates
• approved documentation that you meet the requirements for English proficiency (if required, cf. requirements for English proficiency for admission to the Ph.D. program)
• a list and copies of publications, including preprints, and other relevant academic work
• a copy of the master's thesis and a short summary
• if available: links to personal website and GitHub account
• Applications and attachments with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded in JobNorge.

General information:

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting: Associate Professor Suzette Flantua, Department of Biosciences, suzette.flantua@uib.no, or Department Head Ståle Ellingsen, Department of Biosciences, Stale.Ellingsen@uib.no

For HR-related questions, contact advisor Magnus Skogstad, magnus.skogstad@uib.no, HR section.

Diversity is a strength and enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

We encourage men to apply. If several applicants have nearly equal qualifications, the rules for moderate gender quotas apply.

The University of Bergen uses the principle of public access to information when hiring for scientific positions. Information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the applicant list. If the request is not honored, the applicant shall be notified.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. If you check this box in the application, you may receive positive special treatment. We always invite at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups to an interview. More about the recruitment process here.

Life as a Ph.D. candidate at UiB

Astrid Nybø tells about life and daily work as a Ph.D. candidate at UiB.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3Z63yzkKA&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G&index=5

About the employer:

The University of Bergen is a recognized educational and research institution, organized into seven faculties and approximately 54 departments and academic centers. The campus is located in central parts of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien, and Årstad.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences consists of seven departments and a number of centers. Read more about the faculty and associated departments.