Phd Position in Artificial Intelligence in Desert Geomorphology

Job advertisement
**Vacancy ID**: 008/2025
**Closing date**: 2025-02-07
The Geographic Information Science group in the Department of Geography seeks to fill a
PhD Position in Artificial Intelligence in Desert Geomorphology
commencing on 01 June 2025
We offer a part-time position (75%) as a fixed-term position until 31 May 2028.
**In the DFG-funded project “Desert Pavements**: Assessing their Modulating Role in the Atmospheric Dust Cycle” (PIs: Prof. Brenning / Jena and Prof. Schepanski / FU Berlin), you will conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that advances our knowledge of desert pavement distribution and characteristics by developing innovative geospatial machine-learning models that harness geomorphometric as well as remote-sensing data. Your research will directly feed into the dust emission and deposition models that are coupled into an aerosol-climate model developed in parallel in Prof. Schepanski's group at FU Berlin.
**Your responsibilities**:

- Develop machine-learning models for geomorphic distribution modelling / digital soil mapping of desert pavement in Namibia
- Process digital terrain models and remote-sensing imagery required by these models
- Collect field data at remote field sites in harsh environments through soil mapping and drone surveys, including field-work planning and data processing
- Supervise student research assistants and thesis students supporting your field and computational research
- Contribute to sharing your knowledge through publications, conference presentations, outreach activities and contributions to teaching
- Work towards the completion of a PhD based in the project’s research area

**Your profile**:

- Master's degree in geomatics, geographic information science, soil / environmental science, geography or a related field with an interest in modeling environmental systems
- Very good knowledge of geospatial machine learning / artificial intelligence and remote sensing is required, along with in-depth knowledge of geocomputing tools (R / Python, GIS software)
- Experience in geomorphological or soil science field work and drone surveys is an advantage
- Independent and self-motivated personality with excellent problem-solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills suitable for an interdisciplinary and intercultural work environment
- Excellent English language skills

**We offer**:

- Integration into the ELLIS Unit Jena, an outstanding cluster of researchers in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning for Earth system science
- Comprehensive support for doctoral researchers through the Graduate Academy as well as our local and international network
- An exciting and varied scope of activities with field-based as well computational components and creative freedom
- University health promotion, a wide range of university sports activities and a family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families;
- Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV-L) at salary scale EV-L E-13, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement as well as additional fringe benefits and 30 days of paid vacation per year.

The position is offered as a fixed-term position for a maximum of three years with the possibility of an extension if the project is renewed. This is a part-time position with 75% of the working hours of a full-time employee (i.e., 30 hours per week).
For further information for applicants and the information on the collection of personal data, please refer to