BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
The Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, invites applications for a postdoc position to strengthen our team on image recognition and deep learning in ecology. Specifically, the candidate will further develop analysis pipelines and implement sensors for automated monitoring of insects across Europe. The position is one of several early-career positions funded by the EU Horizon Europe project Modern approaches to the monitoring of biodiversity (MAMBO).
Expected start date and duration of employment
This is a 2-year postdoc position planned to start on 1 March 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job description
Insect population declines are widely reported and a source of great ecological and societal concern. A step-change in data collection and processing is required to understand and prevent such declines. We are seeking applicants to expand our work on image-based methods for biodiversity monitoring. The project is placed within a research group aiming to improve detection and classification performance of deep learning models. These models are applied to millions of images collected to address ecological questions.
Specifically, the candidate will be responsible for quantifying insect abundance, diversity, and biomass from such images and for validating model predictions. The postdoc project focuses on data from insect camera traps. A key challenge will be to build efficient pipelines for localising insects against simple backgrounds such as a uniform screen as well as more complex vegetation backgrounds. Taxonomic Identification is a second challenge, which includes the incorporation of a taxonomic hierarchy in the classification and test methods for anomaly detection. An additional component of the project is to test new insect camera traps with edge computing capabilities, where insect detection and classification is done during the recording process.
Together with an interdisciplinary and international team, the project intends to pave the way for scalable image-based methods to address fundamental questions in biodiversity and conservation. An important task is therefore to be able to communicate and collaborate with a wide range of collaborators and stakeholders.
The candidate will work together with leading computer scientists and ecologist within the MAMBO consortium.
Your profile
We are looking for a candidate with excellent skills in computer vision and the extraction of ecological information from image data. In particular, strong proficiency in programming in Python is a prerequisite. In addition, a good knowledge of applied statistics is important. A strong motivation and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team of biologists and engineers is important. A track-record of turning technical solutions into publications in leading scientific journals of the field is an asset.
The applicant is expected to have a PhD or equivalent in biology, computer science or software engineering. Excellent English and general communication skills are necessary to collaborate with the largely international research team as well as with a wider group of stakeholders.
Who we are
The Department of Ecoscience is engaged in research programs, teaching curricula and advisory work covering the major biological sub-disciplines. We conduct world-class research in the areas of aquatic biology and ecology, arctic environment and ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation biology. The Department currently employs approximately 275 academic and technical staff, as well as many PhD students.
The successful applicant will join the Danish team in the project, which also coordinates the MAMBO project and will be associated with the Department of Ecoscience.
What we offer
The Department offers a vibrant and informal research environment with longstanding traditions for collaboration with elite international university partners and with the Danish Ministry of the Environment.
The working environment at the Department is based on teamwork and close working relations. English is widely spoken and we welcome applicants from abroad. The Department has a strong work-life balance policy and seeks a good gender and age balance. Read more about the services available when relocating to Aarhus University at www.au.dk/work.
Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is C. F. Møllers Allé 8, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
Contact information
For further information, please contact: Professor Toke T. Høye, tth@ecos.au.dk, +4530183122
Deadline
Applications must be received no later than January 3, 2024
Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.
Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aarhus Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aarhus Universitet, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, 8000 Aarhus C
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 03-01-2024; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5946879