Post Doc researcher (m/f/d) Soil Sensing & Soil Landscape Modeling

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains a research station with further locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

We are offering a full-time position temporally limited for 36 months at our location at ZALF in Müncheberg (Germany) as soon as possible as a

Post Doc researcher (m/f/d)

Soil Sensing & Soil Landscape Modeling

The successful applicant will develop and apply a new 3D soil-landscape model in ZALF’s Working Group “Landscape Pedology”, as part of Research Area 1 “Landscape Functioning”. The research focus will be on the application of modern statistical/mathematical tools for high-resolution soil sensing data with the inclusion of classical pedological knowledge.

Special emphasis should be placed on subsoils and their role as important compartments for crop yield and biogeochemical cycles. Model applications will comprise integrated ZALF projects on sustainable agriculture and C/N cycling in agricultural landscapes.

Your tasks:

• Method development for a spatially explicit 3D-imaging of the soil continuum at the landscape scale
• Analysis of vertical and lateral heterogeneities of key soil properties for crop growth and biogeochemical cycles by multi-sensor data fusion from remote sensing (satellites, UAS), DTMs, geophysics (EMI, γ-spectroscopy), and soil spectroscopy (VisNIR, FTIR)
• Upscaling of soil-related drivers of process dynamics (C, N, crop growth) to the landscape scale (model application)
• Co-Development of a general soil-landscape typology
• Joint supervision of PhD students

Your qualifications:

• PhD in soil science, agricultural science or geography
• Very good publication record in the respective field of research
• Excellent skills in geostatistics, multivariate data analysis or machine learning techniques
• Profound software knowledge (R, ArcInfo/ArcGIS, SAGA, etc)
• Motivation for interdisciplinary research
• Excellent command of the English language

We offer:

• An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• Technical support on remote sensing and GIS
• Classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) 13 (including special annual payment)
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. Please send your application by e-mail (one PDF file, max. 5 MB) with the usual documents, in particular CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 90-2020 until February 15, 2021 to: Bewerbungen@zalf.de.

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Michael Sommer (Phone +49(0)33432/82-282; sommer@zalf.de). For other questions, please contact Dr. Ulrike Hagemann (Phone +49(0)33432/82-449; ulrike.hagemann@zalf.de).

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.

You can find further information at: www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/Pages/Datenschutzerklaerung.asp