CRSA - Post-Doctoral Researcher in Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Soil Fertility Mapping

About UM6P:

Located in the heart of Benguerir’s future Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented higher education institution dedicated to driving development in Morocco and across Africa. UM6P focuses on research and innovation to support education and sustainable development. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, UM6P has built a strong academic and research network and seeks to recruit high-quality professionals to enhance its research- focused environment, based near Marrakech.

About CRSA:

The Center for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA) is an interdisciplinary research center within UM6P that spans multiple academic programs. CRSA focuses on addressing food and water security challenges in Africa, with a particular emphasis on the use of multi-source remotely sensed data. The center’s research aims to improve the understanding of surface processes and their interactions with climate and human activities, with an emphasis on the sustainable management of natural resources (soil, land, water, and agriculture) in the context of climate change. One of CRSA’s primary objectives is to provide decision- support tools and services to local, national, and international users in water and food systems.

Job description: 

We are seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Researcher to join our team at the Centre for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA). The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing our research project focused on leveraging hyperspectral remote sensing for soil fertility mapping and crop nutrient management in selected African nations. The Post-Doctoral Researcher will be responsible for conducting innovative research and developing advanced data fusion techniques to integrate hyperspectral data from multiple sources, including UAVs, Earth Observation satellites, and proximal spectroradiometers. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that addresses critical challenges in agricultural sustainability and food security across Africa.

Key Duties:

• Conduct research to develop advanced data fusion techniques for integrating hyperspectral data for soil fertility mapping.
• Collaborate with project team members to collect and analyze hyperspectral data using UAVs, Earth Observation satellites, and proximal spectroradiometers.
• Lead efforts to validate and calibrate hyperspectral data for soil fertility mapping and crop nutrient management assessments.
• Contribute to the development of spectral libraries and hyperspectral imagery for soil fertility mapping and crop monitoring.
• Disseminate research findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences and workshops.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Strong background in hyperspectral remote sensing and image analysis for soil fertility mapping.
• Experience with data fusion techniques and multispectral/hyperspectral data processing.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R for data analysis and processing.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Physically fit and willing to engage in extensive fieldwork in various African countries as part of the research project.