PhD or Postdoc Position in “Spatial Data Science in Environmental Planning”

PhD or Postdoc Position in “Spatial Data Science in Environmental Planning”

(salary scale 13 TV-L, 75 %)

The Institute of Environmental Planning welcomes applications for the following position starting at the earliest possible date: PhD or Postdoc Position in “Spatial Data Science in Environmental Planning” (salary scale 13 TV-L, 75 %)

The position is limited to three years, with the possibility of extension, and is open to doctoral candidates and postdocs.

Your role

You conduct research in environmental planning using advanced methods in the field of spatial data science. Depending on your knowledge and academic degree you will be focusing on:

• Developing and leading a PhD research project in “Spatial Data Science in Environmental Planning”
• For postdoctoral researchers: Strengthening your research profile and actively contributing to the development of new research initiatives

Relevant research topics include among others:

• Participatory multi-objective optimization or MCDA methods to support environmental decision-making (e.g. regarding land-use changes, biodiversity loss or climate adaptation in cities)
• Statistical and machine learning-based methods to build emulators for complex process-based models (e.g. local or regional climate models)
• AI-based methods to extract information from image data (e.g. satellite remote sensing data or street view imagery)

Additional responsibilities include:

• Supporting the teaching activities and the maintenance of the computer room at the Institute for Environmental Planning
• Supervising BSc and MSc theses
• Contributing actively to the governance and administrative processes of the university

Who are we looking for?

Applicants must hold an academic degree in landscape planning, spatial planning, geography, geoinformatics, meteorology, geoecology, environmental sciences, or related fields.

The following skills and experiences would be an advantage:

• Experience with multi-criteria decision support and participatory planning processes
• Experience working with large spatial datasets (e.g., remote sensing, image, climate, or hydrological data)
• Experience in the application of machine learning, spatial optimization, or other methods from the field of artificial intelligence (AI)
• Experience with statistical or process-based environmental models
• very good knowledge of ArcGIS/QGIS
• A strong passion for environmental sustainability and using AI to address climate change and biodiversity loss

Equal opportunities and diversity are core values at Leibniz University Hannover. Our goal is to tap into individual potential and open up possibilities. We therefore welcome applications from anyone interested in the position, irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

We strive towards a balanced and diverse workforce and a reduction in under-representation in accordance with the Lower Saxony Equal Rights Act (Niedersächsisches Gleichberechtigungsgesetz – NGG). We therefore also welcome applications from women for the above-mentioned position. Preference will be given to equally-qualified candidates with disabilities.

• A flexible work environment, an appreciative and motivating working atmosphere and a dynamic team
• A transdisciplinary collaborative research environment at the Institute for Environmental Planning, which deals with current and socially relevant topics
• The opportunity to implement your own research ideas
• a comprehensive staff development and training programme

Part‑time employment as well as remote work (mobile work, work from home) can therefore be arranged upon request. We support employees with balancing work and family life, through services such as back‑up childcare, childcare during school holidays, and parent-child offices, as well as providing individual advice regarding family responsibilities and caring for dependants.