Post-doctoral position in Coherent Lidar Ecological Entomology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description and project

Our division in the Enoch Thulin laboratory counts approximately 60 employees. During the recent years also hosting the group of applied molecular spectroscopy and remote sensing with applications within environmental monitoring and biophotonics, http://www.llc.lu.se/research-fields/research-fields/environmental-monitoring/. In this subject, over the last decade, we developed measurement- and laser radar techniques for surveillance of flying insects in field. The applications include mapping of pests in the landscape and assessment of the biodiversity. We now aim to improve detection range, accomplish remote assessment of nanoscopic features and flatten entomological targets by coherent lidar methods. The interdisciplinary project combines remote sensing with optical investigations from laboratory and ecological applications.

Are you keen of trying out cutting edge technology to reveal the nature of insects whereabouts in situ? Do you have analysis skills for handling machine learning of big insect observational data? Do you have predilection for the six legged?   Will you take part in planning novel ecological experiments for sustainable future of both insects and mankind in an interdisciplinary team of physicists, engineers and entomologists?

In this project, your role will be crucial for our entomological lidar group in Lund. You will validate and exploit the capabilities of novel laser radar diagnostic tools for free-flying insects over the landscape for the purpose of profiling abundance and classifying species. Working with advanced signal processing, big data machine learning, you will estimate system specificity and biases and disclose unknown aspect of insect field behavior. You will work in close collaboration with various technologists and entomologist in the Øresund region on applications for pollinators, agricultural- and forestry pests and disease vectors. You will be responsible for posing and answering ecological relevant questions in field campaigns in the region and globally. Your project will demonstrate the amazing phenomena of coherent back-lasing from insects which potentially can remove range biasing and distinguish species by the wing membrane thickness. This will position you with a unique set of skills that will make you attractive for a research career both within applied and fundamental aspects of entomological ecology.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Research within coherent lidar entomological ecology
• Develop novel experiments and applications of coherent lidar entomology for field deployment to study:
  • o Pollinator biodiversity
  • o Disease vectors
  • o Agricultural or forestry pests
• Develop data pipelines and evaluate entomological lidar data with advanced clustering methods.
• Plan experiments and prepare lidar-entomology field campaigns, validate methodology with conventional methods such as trapping and sweep netting.
• Find ways to correlate trap catches and lidar signals
• Teaching at masters and doctoral level
• Co-supervision of degree projects and doctoral students
• Actively apply for external research funding
• Network with local ecological entomology groups and collaboration with industry and wider society
• Administration related to the work duties listed above

Qualification requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, with a relevant subject for the project, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English
• Documented proficiency in independent scientific writing in English.
• Documented hands-on experience from PhD or Research in Entomological Ecology and/or Entomological Lidar.
• Documented experience with advanced statistical tools such as clustering, multivariate regression, and machine learning on big observational data.
• Experience of planning and carrying out field campaigns.
• Documented experience from independent planning and carrying out field campaigns with Lidar.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

• Experience working with either insect pests, disease vectors or pollinators.
• Experience with frequency domain methods, e.g., from bioaccoustics or other signal processing.
• Experience in taxonomy and species identification
• Experience with entomogical traps and field work Experience with animal surveilence or telemetry, such as radar, sonar or lidar
• Any experience in vission, optics or spectroscopy is meriting
• Good understanding for new technology and colabroating with scientists from other fields such as physics, engineering and biology.
• Passion to explore nature with novel technology and make difference for the environment and society.
• Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more: To apply for academic positions at LTH | Faculty of Engineering, LTH