IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
The National Ecological Observatory Network, Inc. (NEON™) is a $430 million dollar observatory project dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. For the next three decades NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. NEON will use cutting edge technology including an airborne observation platform that will capture images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. A leading edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory will grow to 300+ personnel and will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.
NEON is developing an airborne remote sensing capability as an integral part of the observatory infrastructure. The Airborne Observation Platform (AOP) will consist of advanced remote sensing instrumentation including a high-fidelity imaging spectrometer, a waveform-LiDAR and a high-resolution digital camera to provide long-term, quantitative information on land use, vegetation structure and canopy chemistry over the NEON locations, transects and sites of opportunity.
Term:
One Year
Location:
Boulder, CO
Summary:
The AOP Algorithm Scientist will be a member of the AOP science team performing a variety of Observatory duties and directed research in support of project development. The Algorithm Scientist will play an important role in developing sensor data processing algorithms and validation approaches to produce high quality science data products from airborne imaging spectrometer, waveform-LiDAR, and high-resolution digital camera data. The Algorithm Scientist will also be directly involved in airborne operations and will serve as liaison with NEON’s Cyber infrastructure product team. The Algorithm Scientist will receive project assignments from the AOP Instrument Scientist, reporting to the AOP Product Team Lead on progress in the assigned areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Design, develop, and implement scientific algorithms and Algorithm Theoretical Baseline Documents for application of airborne imaging spectroscopy and waveform LiDAR to terrestrial remote sensing.
• Contribute to developing the science rationale for data products, developing and prototyping algorithms for their generation, and engaging stakeholders in vetting the produced materials.
• Provide support for the development of airborne instrument flight campaigns, including conducting field measurements and analyzing instrument data to verify sensor data product accuracy.
• Engage the user community through meetings and workshops to ensure the utility and veracity of NNOEN remote sensing data products.
Education:
• PhD in ecology, geography, atmospheric sciences, physics, or a related science field, or an MS in one of these areas and equivalent experience.
• Recent PhD candidates may apply
Required Experience:
• 4 years of experience working with remote sensing instrument science algorithm development. (note: experience obtained while working on PhD can be applied)
• Experience with imaging spectroscopy and image processing algorithms
• Expertise in common software packages (e.g., IDL, Matlab, Python, R)
• Experience integrating remote sensing data with a variety of ground-based data, including measurements of biophysical variables and radiometric calibration
Preferred Experience:
• Knowledge and skill developing optical pointing models and application of standard geo-locations techniques
• Experience in laboratory measurements of sensor characteristics and calibration
• Experience with LiDAR and sensor geolocation algorithms
Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of imaging spectrometers, high resolution imagery and LiDAR altimetry
• Skilled at scientific writing and review
• Experience working in a collaborative scientific enterprise
• Ability to work independently and as part of an active scientific team
