Last application date Aug 03, 2025 00:00
Department LA20 - Department of Environment
Contract Limited duration
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
Job description
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
Q-ForestLab (www.q-forestlab.ugent.be) is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to work on multitemporal terrestrial laser scanning for better understanding forest structural dynamics.
YOUR JOB
Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and the global climate. The shape and size of trees within a forest are impacted by forest dynamics (e.g. tree growth and forest disturbances). Our current knowledge about forest growth is limited, mainly due to the difficulty to accurately measure tree structure, e.g. diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and aboveground biomass (AGB), repeatedly and objectively. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, also called terrestrial lidar) measures the in situ structure of trees and forests in explicit 3D detail and opens a new avenue in accurately measuring very detailed 3D structure of trees and forests.
You will work across multiple ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest (AmazonFACE experiment in Brazil), the wet tropics of Australia (Queensland Permanent Rainforest Plots), Wytham Woods (UK) and Bosland National Park in Belgium. You are expected to contribute to the collection of terrestrial laser scanning data in these ecosystems, further complementing already existing data.
The PhD fellow will (1) conduct terrestrial laser scanning fieldwork across a range of ecosystems; (2) contribute to the development of new methods to analyse multitemporal 3D data from terrestrial laser scanning in forests; and (3) apply these methods to gain ecological insights in how forest structure is changing through time.
This PhD project will be promoted by prof. Kim Calders, co-supervised by dr. Louise Terryn.
Job profile
- MSc degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field (Bio-Engineering, Forestry, Remote Sensing, Surveying, Physics, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science
- A passion for nature and forests and a keen interest in forest ecology
- Keen to carry out fieldwork (Brazil, Belgium, UK and Australia)
- Previous experience with (terrestrial) laser scanning and 3D modelling is a plus, but not a requirement
- Knowledge of programming languages such as R, Matlab or Python. Experience with the linux/unix environment and handling large datasets is a plus.
- A good command of English, both written and oral.
- Willingness to collaborate and be a team player with good communication skills.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
- Tentative starting date: November 1, 2025
- The successful candidate will be based in Ghent
- The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
- Collaboration in a young and dynamic international scientific team. Life-work balance is important for us.
- Opportunities to present your work at scientific conferences
- Please mention your favourite animal in your motivation letter so we can check that you at least read this vacancy in full
About Q-ForestLab – www.q-forestlab.ugent.be
Our lab is part of Ghent University in Belgium and studies vegetation dynamics, ecology, biogeochemistry, carbon and water cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. Q-ForestLab has a strong focus on forest ecosystems, but a broad interest in all types of terrestrial ecosystems, including tropical and temperate forests, drylands, peatlands and urban ecosystems. Our strength lies in a unique combination of methodologies, ranging from empirical in-situ observations and experiments, over 3D forest reconstructions, to process-based modelling and remote sensing.
How to apply
Application submission (CV and application letter) through this google form: https://forms.gle/aBEQA2CAD41uAr1o6 | Application deadline: 3 August 2025 (midnight CEST) | Notification of selection for interview: Mid August | Interviews (online): Late August
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More information: Prof. Kim Calders | [email protected]
