ASARI: Postdoc Remote Sensing Job Advert

About UM6P

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a world class institution that seeks to foster development of skilled manpower and natural resources in Morocco and Africa. UM6P has robust teaching and research programs with a base of cutting edge research facilities, accomplished researchers who work in partnership with research institutions and stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to local and international challenges. Currently UM6P is developing innovative tools to solve the eminent challenges of low crop productivity in soils marginalized by salinity, alkalinity and aridity among others. For this purpose, UM6P trains highly skilled professionals in a pool of doctoral and postdoctoral fellows to provide specialized solutions that include digitization of agriculture to optimize production and preserve the environment.

About ASARI

The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) is a component of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). It is located in Laayoune City and constitutes a structure of practical-based research with a vision of solving real Local, Regional, and African agriculture challenges leveraging up-to-date science and technology.

Oriented towards Africa, ASARI acts in connection with a wide network of universities and research centers around the continent in order to link real field issues with up-to-date science. The institute consists of a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, biochemists, molecular biologists, bioprocess specialists, animal scientist working with agricultural producers and other stakeholders in response to regional challenges affecting marginal environments.

ASARI has mandates that includes three main research programs for,

• AgriBioTechnology that leverages up to date technologies in the service of the Southern Moroccan and Sub-Saharan agriculture challenges. Its ambition is to conduct relevant and cutting-edge research on plant/crop improvement, biosaline agriculture, valorization of local agricultural and marine resources, and animal nutrition and reproduction with a positive impact on the African agriculture.
• Water treatment and management which is oriented towards the development of cost-effective desalinization processes for agriculture use and water treatment, management and analysis and,
• Renewable energy that aims at developing new approaches for the production of clean energy to address real local and regional challenges.

Job Summary

ASARI seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a research team of agronomy, soil fertility management, remote sensing and ICT experts who seek to develop precise fertilizer recommendations and regenerative cropping systems in arid-saline conditions of Morocco. We seek a highly motivated candidate with a PhD from a recognized University who is passionate about developing innovations that have direct impacts to farmers in arid lands. The candidate will participate in developing concepts and designing large scale field experiments that includes actual and remote sensing assisted evaluation soil health and crop indices for precise fertilizer and cropping systems recommendations. The candidate is expected to be dynamic and adaptive to participatory research that involves co-development of interventions with farmers leading to a digital tool. The fellowship will be for a duration of 24 months after which further employment will be subject to performance and the continued availability of funds.

Job Responsibilities

• Development of research protocols for large scale on-farm experiments with the components of multi-spectral and hyperspectral imagery and evaluation of soil mineral nutrient stocks, and crop ecosystem services in saline conditions
• Calibration and operation of remote sensing tools including spectroradiometer, unmanned aerial vehicles, and orbital sensing
• Analyzing proximal and aerial multi-spectral and hyperspectral imagery data and modelling specifically related to soil nutrient stocks and crop nutritional indices
• Developing and maintaining a data base of agronomic and weather information relevant to the field trials
• Contribution to the design of a precision agriculture web tool
• Contribution to development of research proposals, project reports and scientific publications
• Teaching of relevant graduate and undergraduate courses and training of UM6P technical staff.
• Capacity building of farmers and service providers in precision agriculture.

The candidate is expected to travel frequently to research sites in southern Morocco and conduct lab activities at UM6P-ASARI and CRSA in Benguerir. 

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in Geospatial Science, Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering or related fields with strong experience in the field of mapping soils and crop indices during thesis research. 
• Basic understanding of soil fertility and crop nutritional needs and precise fertilizer recommendations
• Experience in calibration and operation of remote sensing tools including spectroradiometer, and drones and orbital sensing
• Strong expertise in analyzing proximal and aerial multi-spectral and hyperspectral imagery data, and modelling specifically related to soil nutrient stocks and crop nutritional indices
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, data analysis using R, SAS etc and basic Python programing language
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Ability to speak Arabic or French is desirable

Application Procedure

Applications must be sent using a single electronic zipped folder with the mention of the job title.

The folder must contain:

• A detailed CV
• A cover letter indicating the position applied for and the main research interests relevant to this job advertisement
• Brief research statement.
• 3 references letters