Postdoctoral Researcher

Description

The Department of Environmental Science at American University (Washington, DC) seeks an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with expertise in Python programming to work on a funded remote sensing project for 1 year (P.I.’s: Dr. Michael Alonzo at American University and Dr. Jamon Van Den Hoek at Oregon State University). We will also consider candidates with Masters’ degrees for a similar role of Faculty Research Assistant following demonstration of exceptional programming skills.

With funding through NSF's National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) for a data/computationally intensive Pursuit, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the refinement of a disturbance detection algorithm (algorithm details in Scientific Reports publication here). The postdoctoral researcher will use Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery along with open-source geospatial programming to 1) analyze large volumes of satellite data in a high performance computing (HPC) environment, 2) improve the algorithm’s ability to detect a broad range of land cover dynamics (e.g., vegetation decline, disturbance, regrowth), and 3) ensure that the open-source algorithmic workflow is  accessible to non-remote sensing scientists and that algorithmic outputs may be readily synthesized with other spatial or non-spatial data.

The primary responsibility of the candidate will be to modify and code the time series algorithm in Python. As such, demonstration of strong Python programming skills are a key requirement for all candidates. The postdoc will also have opportunities to foster collaborations with a group of 15 socio-environmental scientists at three fully funded workshops at SESYNC headquarters in Annapolis, MD, and lead the publication of papers relating to technical contributions of the algorithm and/or its domain applications. Results from this effort will kick-start a set of novel, mutually beneficial collaborations between socio-ecological researchers and remote sensing scientists, including the postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Alonzo, and Dr. Van Den Hoek.  

Qualifications

For the postdoctoral research position, the candidate must have a PhD in Environmental Sciences, Geography, or other technical field, or be on track to receive their degree by December 2017. Candidates with strong Python programming skills and experience working with geospatial datasets may be considered without a PhD for a Faculty Research Assistant position. The F.R.A. responsibilities will be very similar to those of the postdoctoral researcher but with less emphasis on designing and leading research projects.

Application Instructions

Salary and benefits are competitive.  Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names of 2 referees who will provide letters of support. Please contact Dr. Michael Alonzo at alonzo@american.edu if you have any questions. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not  discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities.

American University is a tobacco and smoke free campus. Hiring offers for this position are contingent on the successful completion of a background check. 

American University is required to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). In accordance with the Clery Act, each year American University prepares an Annual Security Report. This report contains campus crime statistics as well as descriptions of Public Safety's services. It is available to all applicants upon request by calling the Department of Public Safety at 202-885-2537 or the Annual Security Report is also available online.