Visiting Researcher
Digital Soil Mapping (DSM)
Multifunctional Landscapes
The Organization
The Alliance of
Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity
and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions
address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss,
and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates
evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes
so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About this fellowship
The Multifunctional Landscapes research area is seeking a master’s or Ph.D. student in agronomy, agricultural engineering, soil science, geomatics, or related fields with an emphasis on digital soil mapping, spatial modeling, and/or data science to support the development of digital soil maps of physicochemical properties for the Alliance Bioversity–CIAT Campus in Palmira, Colombia.
The selected Visiting
Researcher will contribute to sustainable campus management strategies by
collecting, processing, and analyzing soil, remote sensing, climate, and
related geospatial datasets, as well as developing spatial prediction
algorithms based on Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) approaches according to their project
thesis.
The Visiting Researcher will be based at the Americas Hub, located on the Palmira Campus, Colombia.
Requirements
Activities
- Gathering,
cleaning, processing, and standardization of geospatial data.
- Data
analysis of laboratory and geospatial data.
- Development
of algorithms and digital soil maps using DSM approach.
- Definition
of soil health indicators to be monitored based on digital soil maps,
uncertainty layers, and environmental covariates.
- Design
of protocols and strategies for soil sample collection and laboratory analyses
to support soil health monitoring.
- Preparation
of technical reports, presentation of results, and participation in progress
meetings.
- Eventually
support in field data collection activities.
Education and Requirements
- Master’s or Ph.D. student in agronomy, agricultural
engineering, soils, geomatics, or related fields, with an emphasis on digital
soil mapping, spatial modeling, and/or data science.
- Basic use of R, Python, or Google Earth Engine.
- Basic use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
software: ArcGIS or QGIS.
- Experience handling, analyzing, and interpreting
geospatial and remote sensing data.
- Experience in statistics.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- Ability to write and prepare technical and
scientific reports.
Skills and competencies
- Advanced communication skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Proactivity and critical thinking
- Time planning and organization
Benefits
Terms
of employment
This is an international Visiting Researcher role and will be managed
through a fixed term agreement of a one (8) months period.
We are an equal
opportunity organization and strive for gender, diversity, and inclusion in our
staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual
orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or
any other characteristic.
Applications
Applicants
are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above
position against the qualifications, competencies, and skills together with a
detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees
knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work
experience. All correspondence should be addressed to the following link:
Candidates must
be in a postgraduate education program to apply.
We invite
you to learn more about us at:
Careers |
Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT (alliancebioversityciat.org)