Postdoctoral Position in Ecology – Phenology
http://www.fapesp.br/oportunidades/nordeste_uma_nova_ciencia_para_um_importante_porem_negligenciado_bioma_fapespnercbiome/1327/
Subject: Post Doctoral position in Ecology - remote phenology
Process Number: FAPESP: 2015/50488-5
Project Title: Nordeste: new science for a neglected biome
(http://www.bv.fapesp.br/en/auxilios/93282/nordeste-new-science-for-a-neglected-biome/)
Principal Investigator/supervisor: Patrícia Morellato
Unity/Institution: Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências /
UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista
Dead line for subscription: 04/12/2016
Published: 17/11/2016
Location: Departamento de Botânica, IB - Av. 24A, 1515 Rio Claro, São
Paulo, Brazil
Summary
Near remote phenology and leaf traits of tropical seasonal vegetation
The Laboratory of Phenology, Department of Botany from São Paulo State
University (UNESP) at Rio Claro, São Paulo, is seeking applicants for a
post-doctoral position to participate in the FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo
a Pesquisa do o Estado de São Paulo) – NERC – BIOME project: "Nordeste:
new science for a neglected biome". Applications close on 4th December
2016 and the position is available for two years (Feb 2017- Jan 2019).
The successful applicant’s activities will be concentrated on: (1) the
establishment and monitoring of a phenology system using digital cameras
(phenocams) at Nordeste study sites encompassing different areas of
seasonal tropical dry forest (STDF) and ‘caatinga’ vegetation types in
northeast Brazil ; (2) The analyses of digital images in order to
establish the dynamics of leaf exchange patterns and, with the aid of
concurrently collected meteorological data, to key identify
environmental drivers of semi-arid vegetation seasonality patterns. The
goal is to understand the trade-offs associated with different
phenological strategies and leaf exchange patterns, along with their
environmental drivers, triggers and constraints. The information will be
integrated with biome-wide information on floristic composition, plant
traits and ecophysiological characteristics with climatic data from
local stations and flux towers also employed to help understand 3D
structure (LIDAR) and associated hyperspectral images of a range of
semi-arid vegetation types in Brazil. Data collected is also expected to
aid the development of future models of ecosystem carbon, heat and water
vapour exchange for this understudied biome.
The temporal analyses will be carried out using developing software and
R language or other resources such as MatLab and Python.
The candidate must have a Ph. D. degree on Ecology, Biological Sciences,
Plant Biology, Remote Sensing or related fields, with experience on
programming, primarily in R language and statistical analysis of
ecological data. Knowledge of machine learning for image processing and
analysis, time-series data analyses, digital remote phenology using
cameras, GIS, remote monitoring with drones, hyperspectral and Lidar
sensors is considered advantageous, with proficiency in a language other
than English, such as Portuguese and/or Spanish are also considered as a
desirable characteristic.
The position is open to both Brazilians and foreign candidates. The
selected candidate will receive a monthly post-doctoral (PD) fellowship
from FAPESP of R$ 6.819,30 per month free of taxes, plus an additional
research contingency fund equivalent to 15 % of the annual value of the
scholarship to be expended on his/her research. Candidates from abroad
will receive one month additional fellowship for moving expenses and
airplane tickets. For more information go to: http://fapesp.br/en/postdoc
Applicants should send by December 4th, 2016 a letter explaining the
candidate´s motivation/interest, a curriculum vitae and two letters of
recommendations, all documents in PDF format, to the PI, Dr Patrícia
Morellato ([email protected], [email protected]). A
decision is expected to be made by December 20, 2016.
Caatinga Flux tower (right up) and
vegetation (right down)
A sample image from phenology camera
(bellow left)
