"Research Associate (Remote Sensing of Agriculture and Irrigation)"

The University of Manchester - Department of Civil Engineering and Management is seeking a talented and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to play a key role in the IrrEO project. This project focuses on developing satellite-based irrigation mapping tools for governments and development actors in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Expanding irrigation is critical for climate adaptation and improving food security in SSA. The IrrEO project addresses gaps in data on irrigation extent by leveraging Earth Observation (EO) and data science techniques to create mapping tools.

The PDRA will lead the development and validation of national-scale irrigated area and agricultural mapping algorithms in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya. This involves using groundtruth data, EO imagery (SPOT, Sentinel-1 and -2, Landsat), and machine/deep learning techniques to quantify dynamics of small-scale irrigated agriculture and develop an interactive irrigation mapping toolbox.

The PDRA will collaborate with social science specialists to investigate irrigation hotspots, understanding drivers and socio-economic outcomes of small-scale irrigation initiatives.

The role is part of a team including Dr. Tim Foster, Dr. Polyanna da Conceição Bispo, Dr. Rose Pritchard, and partners in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Airbus, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

As an equal opportunities employer, the University supports an inclusive working environment. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Enquiries: Dr. Tim Foster, Email: timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk