TWO (2) POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW POSITIONS AT THE ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE DEPARTMENT-Cyprus University of Technology

UP TO TWO (2) POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW POSITIONS AT THE ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE DEPARTMENT

ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (www.eratosthenes.org.cy) of the Cyprus University of Technology (www.cut.ac.cy) invites applications for up to two (2) positions at the Post-Doctoral Research Fellow level at the Environment and Climate Department of ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence. The positions are open either on a full-time (100%) or part-time employment basis. The successful candidates will conduct research under multiple Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence projects funded by the European Union and / or commenced or prone to commence services. The successful candidates will conduct research under multiple Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence projects funded by the European Union, including the flagship Excelsior H2020 Teaming project (https://excelsior2020.eu/), and other European, national, or industry-funded projects (such as LandShift, AfroGrow, and Nostradamus).

ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is an autonomous Centre of Excellence with Cyprus University of Technology as its sole stakeholder, specialising in earth observation, space technology and geospatial analysis. Cyprus University of Technology has a 16-year experience in Earth Observations and Geospatial Analysis. Through the ‘EXCELSIOR’ H2020 Teaming Project (https://excelsior2020.eu/), ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence aspires to become a Digital Innovation Hub for Earth Observation and Geospatial Information by offering knowledge, responsible research, open innovation and application services capable of sustaining Cyprus’ development. ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence aspires to actively contribute to the European Research Area (ERA) priorities in Atmosphere and Climate, Resilient Societies and Big Earth Data Analytics, as well as to become the reference Earth Observation/Geoinformation Centre for research and innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa (EMMENA) region.

A core activity of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is to conduct high caliber, state-of-the-art research, both basic and applied. A central task is to acquire research funding for the Centre, to provide facilities to the researchers, and to support them to acquire funding for their research independently and via international and local collaborations. Collaborations with industrial partners are particularly encouraged and facilitated.

Appropriate measures of success will be collaboratively determined based on the Centre’s strategic growth plan and sustainability targets. These will be revised periodically by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.

LandShift: is an innovative initiative addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable land management in the EU’s land-use sector. It aims to reduce biogenic emissions and enhance ecosystem resilience by utilizing Living Earths, integrating FAO LCCS with optimized Earth Observation data, and Data Cubes as centralized data hubs. LandShift focuses on planning Nature-Based Solutions aligned with the New European Bauhaus, promoting carbon sequestration, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem services. The project emphasizes data-driven decision-making with robust MRV systems to track progress and inform policy. Through outreach and capacity building, LandShift fosters collaboration and empowers stakeholders to advance sustainable land use practices.

AfroGrow: aims to promote sustainable agroforestry across Africa by addressing climate resilience, biodiversity, soil health, and socio-economic development, while safeguarding human health. Through six Living Labs, the project will foster collaboration among communities, researchers, and policymakers to co-create solutions tailored to local contexts. These hubs will support knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and capacity building for empowering stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices. AfroGrow will develop regional suitability maps for plant species and animal breeds, provide impact assessments, and offer data-driven policy recommendations.

Nostradamus: aims to transform the agricultural sector, and beyond, through informed decision-making and policy shaping. The project will design, develop, and evaluate a scalable and robust platform for the online and real-time harvesting of valuable information from diverse data sources to support various agricultural applications. Nostradamus will establish an automated pipeline for data acquisition, storage, and pre-processing. Five Data Cubes will integrate satellite datasets and employ near-real-time server-side algorithms for time-series analysis and the generation of value-added geospatial maps. To enhance the sustainability performance and competitiveness of the agricultural sector through a multi-actor approach, Nostradamus will develop multiple open-source digital applications, which will utilize both edge and cloud solutions, as well as hybrid combinations, harnessing the potential of Internet of Things and Earth Observation data, ensuring the effective exploitation of such applications even in areas with weak connectivity.

Description of the Position
These positions concern researchers with Doctoral Degree.
The Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence is seeking two highly motivated Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Researchers to join our team specializing in Earth Observation (EO), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Land Use Planning and Management, Soil Science and/or Ecosystem Services. The primary focus will be on assessing and monitoring land use change and management, soil health risk assessment and soil ecosystem services on various spatio-temporal scales. As Researchers in the Land Cluster within the Environment and Climate Department, the successful candidates will be responsible for developing AI and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to derive information products for Land Use and Land Cover, as well as for Soil Health Descriptors as defined by the Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience, utilizing existing databases, and Earth Observation and in-situ data. Additionally, the successful candidates will need to assess soil health-related ecosystem services and evaluate how soil health can support the achievement of land use neutrality.

Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidates are expected to contribute towards shaping and advancing its research and innovation agenda by:
1. Understanding ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence operations;
2. Participating in the preparation and submission of project deliverables;
3. Managing and / or coordinating funded projects within the Land cluster and Environment & Climate Department;
4. Leading initiatives concerning Soil science and health, Ecosystem restoration, Landscape ecology, or relevant topics;
5. Conduct research on soil health risk assessment using remote sensing data from satellite and airborne sensors and stay informed about advancements in AI/ML and remote sensing applications relevant to soil health risk assessment;
6. Develop and implement algorithms to analyze remote sensing data for key soil health descriptors;
7. Develop and implement AI/ML models that integrate EO data, in-situ measurements, and databases to analyze land-use patterns, trends, and drivers, while projecting future scenarios to assess policy and management impacts on LULUCF;
8. Evaluate ecosystem services, focusing on the impact and interactions with soil health;
9. Conduct studies on ecosystem service impact and land ecology assessment in connection with soil health using remote sensing techniques;
10. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate remote sensing data with field observations and other datasets;
11. Assist in the preparation of grant proposals to secure funding and resources from national, regional, and international schemes for advancing future research initiatives;
12. Disseminating and communicating project results through journal / conference publications, participation in conferences, information days, and other relevant events;
13. Assisting in the establishment of local, regional, and international research networks that can support the long-term research agenda and priorities of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence;
14. Mentor and guide graduate and undergraduate students involved in related research activities;
15. Provide technical expertise and support to internal and external stakeholders, including training and capacity-building activities;
16. Organize and lead regular project team meetings to discuss project progress, assign tasks, and address any issues or concerns;
17. Travel to present research findings at scientific conferences or to support research projects/activities;
18. Participating in meetings at the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence;
19. Working towards fulfilling ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence mission goals;
20. Any other relevant duties deemed useful and necessary.

Qualifications
1. Ph.D. in Remote Sensing or Earth Observation or Soil Science or Environmental Science or a closely related field;
2. Strong expertise in Remote Sensing technologies and their application to soil health monitoring;
3. Strong background in AI/ML applications;
4. Knowledge in programming languages such as Python, R, or MATLAB, and experience in handling large datasets;
5. Knowledge of soil science, including key descriptors of soil health and methods for their assessment;
6. Experience with Remote Sensing software (e.g., ENVI, ERDAS Imagine) and GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS);
7. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills;
8. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within research team;
9. Effective communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and convey technical information to diverse audiences;
10. Experience in the preparation of scientific project proposals is considered an advantage;
11. Experience in managing and coordinating project activities;
12. Strong ability to monitor project progress, identify potential issues, and support problem-solving;
13. Experience in managing and organizing project documentation with accuracy;
14. Proven experience in documenting and presenting scientific results in articles and presentations is considered an advantage;
15. Excellent command of English is mandatory while knowledge of Greek or any other relevant language necessary for the position is considered an advantage;
16. A publication record in peer-reviewed journals is preferred.

Minimum Requirements for the post of Post-Doc
The minimum requirement for the position of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow is a doctoral degree from a recognized university.

The appointment will be for a period of one year (12 months) with the prospect of renewal for another one year. The annual gross salary for the (full-time) position will range from €36,732.10 to €41,408.54, depending on qualifications. It is noted that there is provision for 13th salary (the cost of the 13th salary is proportionally incorporated in the monthly remuneration).

Interested candidates must submit their application comprising of all documents listed below not later than 11 February 2025 at 14.00 CYPRUS TIME, which is the deadline for the submission of the applications.

• A cover letter in English clearly specifying availability date for full time employment;
• Scanned or electronic copies of degree certificates and relevant qualifications. True copies of the originals will be requested for the shortlisted candidates;
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae in English (including contact details);
• The shortlisted candidates may be asked to submit Letters of Reference by three referees.

* Please combine all necessary documents in one PDF file and then upload on the “Resume” section.

Apply here: https://eratosthenes.peopleforce.io/careers/v/99773-post-doctoral-research-fellow-at-the-environment-and-climate-department

If you have previously applied for any position at ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, a new application is required.

Screening of applications will begin immediately after this deadline and all applicants will be notified accordingly.

For further information visit ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence webpage at http://www.eratosthenes.org.cy.

For general inquiries, applicants may contact the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, at vacancies@eratosthenes.org.cy.

It is noted that:

– For non-EU applicants a work permit will be required;
– Applications will be treated in strict confidence. All information provided will comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union;
– The job requires that the Researcher is physically present at the Centre’s premises;
– ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence is an equal opportunity employer;
– ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence does not discriminate in any way on the basis of gender, religion or belief, ethnic, national or social origin, age, physical ability, marital status and sexual orientation;
– The title of the position may be modified.