Introduction

With more than 15,000 students and more than 5,000 staff, the University of Lausanne offers a welcoming place for the brightest minds around the world to engage in critical and innovative thought. Its scenic campus is situated on the shore of Lake Geneva, close to the city centre of Lausanne, and is home to over 120 nationalities.

Presentation

In order to complete its team, the Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) invites applications for the position of graduate assistant in geospatial data analysis and modeling. The position involves preparing a PhD thesis and is part of the research team of Dr. Christian Kaiser, who will act as the PhD supervisor.
IGD brings together around 130 members working in the fields of geography and sustainability, combining the humanities and natural sciences. With 24 professors and senior lecturers and more than 60 doctoral and post-doctoral students, IGD offers an international, interdisciplinary and stimulating environment conducive to high-level research. It regularly hosts renowned conferences and researchers from all over the world.
 

Job information

Start date:                    01.08.2024 or to be agreed upon
Duration of contract:    1 year, renewable twice for 2 years, for a maximum of 5 years
Activity rate:                 80 %
Location:                      University of Lausanne, Switzerland, Geopolis Building
 

Your responsibilities

The successful candidate will develop independent research leading to a PhD in geography or environmental sciences. The main objective will be to study geospatial data using advanced methods of analysis, modeling and simulation. The research topic will focus on the interactions between human activity and environmental processes such as natural hazards or water pollution. This PhD research will aim to understand and predict the environmental impacts resulting from these interactions in order to help decision-making and the implementation of sustainable solutions.

The research will be rooted in quantitative and computational methods and will focus on a theme that includes one or more of the following approaches:
•    the use of statistical and learning methods for spatial analysis
•    the use of simulation approaches for the analysis and detection of complex spatio-temporal structures
•    monitoring a region in terms of socio-economic structure, mobility and environmental impact
•    analysis of open geospatial data from multiple sources
•    integrating indirect geospatial data (e.g. User-Contributed Content, UCC) or data with low acquisition costs into a spatial analysis process

The PhD research will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Christian Kaiser. A collaboration is planned with Dr. Marj Tonini, researcher at the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics and director of the Swiss Geocomputing Centre (https://wp.unil.ch/geocomputing/).
The candidate will dedicate at least half of his/her time to personal research (PhD thesis). The rest of the time will be devoted to supporting teaching activities at Bachelor's and Master's level, group research activities and service activities.
 

Your qualifications

We are looking for an individual to join our team with the following qualifications:

•    Master's degree (or equivalent) in geography, environmental sciences, computer science or similar, with solid knowledge of scientific programming (e.g. R, Python) and data science.
•    Good knowledge of geographic information systems and data visualization.
•    Strong interest in quantitative and computational methods, spatial analysis, geovisualization and machine learning.
•    Strong communication skills in English, knowledge of French is an advantage.

What the position offers you

We offer a dynamic and inclusive work environment, fostering a strong sense of community and provide dedicated support for developing an academic career. Our team members are part of international research networks and graduate assistants are encouraged and sup-ported to participate in these networks, including conferences and workshops.
The University of Lausanne offers a competitive salary and additional funds for fieldwork and conferences. Additionally, various opportunities for further training are available either at UNIL or within Swiss organizations that promote doctoral research.
 

Contact for further information

Dr. Christian Kaiser, E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Deadline : 22.06.2024

Please submit the following documents in PDF format only via the University of Lausanne Careers website :
•    letter of motivation
•    curriculum vitæ
•    names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of two referees
•    outline of a PhD research project (2 to 3 pages) in line with the job description
•    copies of academic qualifications and grades
•    copy of research work (master's thesis, publication, etc.)

Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, 3 July 2024 between 2pm and 5pm  (local time).

Additional information

UNIL is committed to equal opportunities and diversity.
www.unil.ch/egalite

UNIL supports early career researchers.
www.unil.ch/graduatecampus