Postdoc in Operational Radar-Based Forest Disturbance and Regrowth Monitoring

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to advance near-real-time forest disturbance and regrowth monitoring using radar satellite observations. The position combines methodological research with the further development and operation of the RADD (Radar for Detecting Deforestation) forest disturbance alerts, using established and newly available radar satellite missions, including Sentinel-1 and NISAR.

Radar remote sensing is particularly valuable for forest monitoring because of its sensitivity to vegetation structure and its ability to provide systematic observations largely independent of daylight and cloud cover. Translating these observations into accurate, consistent, and operational information on forest disturbance and post-disturbance regrowth, however, remains challenging. Radar responses are influenced by wavelength, acquisition geometry, forest structure, seasonality, and environmental conditions.

The project will address these challenges in two main directions. First, you will extend the RADD framework from disturbance detection towards continuous forest change monitoring, including the detection and characterization of post-disturbance forest regrowth and structural recovery. Second, you will expand the geographic applicability of the RADD alerts beyond their current implementations in the humid tropics and Europe.

The position is embedded in a strong international and interdisciplinary research environment, including collaboration with partners from Global Nature Watch. The project provides opportunities to contribute to high-impact scientific publications, international collaborations, and operational monitoring products with direct societal relevance.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• operational lead of the RADD near-real-time alert system;
• developing and implementing methods for radar-based methods for detecting and monitoring post-disturbance forest regrowth and structural recovery;
• studying forest disturbance-recovery dynamics;
• coordinating project deliverables and ensuring their timely and high-quality completion;
• contributing to collaborative research in an international consortium;
• publishing research results in leading peer-reviewed journals;
• communicating research findings and monitoring developments to scientific, policy, and stakeholder audiences.

Your team

You will join the radar remote sensing team within the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing. The team studies human activities and the dynamics of forest ecosystems from regional to global scales using radar remote sensing. Its work focuses in particular on fundamental radar and multi-sensor methods, near-real-time change monitoring, and the integration of satellite observations with in-situ field data.

You will work here

You will work as part of a research team within the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS), which is led by Dr. Johannes Reiche.

Requirements

You are a highly motivated and independent researcher with strong methodological skills and demonstrated expertise in (radar) remote sensing. You have a clear interest in multidisciplinary research at the interface of remote sensing, forest ecology, and forest management.

You combine scientific rigor with the ability to work collaboratively in an international research environment and to translate methodological advances into robust monitoring approaches.

You also possess:

• a PhD in remote sensing, data science, forest ecology or a related field;
• a strong foundation in remote sensing, including demonstrated experience with radar/SAR remote sensing;
• experience with forest change, disturbance, regrowth, or recovery dynamics;
• experience developing reproducible data-processing and analysis workflows;
• excellent programming skills, with strong proficiency in Python;
• the ability to publish scientific research and communicate results effectively;
• experience working in interdisciplinary teams and with stakeholders;
• excellent written and spoken English skills (C1 level).

Preferred Qualifications: The following qualifications are considered an advantage:

• experience with satellite time-series analysis, change detection and near-real-time forest monitoring;
• experience with Sentinel-1, NISAR, and/or other spaceborne radar missions;
• experience with scalable Earth observation processing using cloud-computing or high-performance computing environments;
• knowledge of forest disturbance ecology, forest management, and post-disturbance vegetation dynamics;
• experience engaging with operational users, policy actors, or other stakeholders.

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.706,- and € 5.760,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of two years. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

Employer

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

Additional information

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Join us and come work at WUR

At Wageningen University & Research, you work at improving the quality of life. Together with your colleagues, you seek to answer the challenges within our domain 'healthy food and living environment.'