Assistant Research Scientist - Environmental Remote Sensing SAR Specialist

Department: Michigan Tech Research Institute

Summary

This Assistant Research Scientist – Environmental Remote Sensing SAR Specialist position provides support for MTRI programs focused land cover classification around the Great Lakes region and the Congo. Experience with GIS analysis and processing SAR and Lidar data for environmental science research is required, as is significant experience with geospatial Python programming. Applicants must also have experience with applying photogrammetry to UAV collected imagery. The applicant will be expected to apply their knowledge of sensing and image processing to assist in the development of research questions and/or research programs. The applicant will be expected to participate in challenging field work that collects ground truth data for informing algorithms based on remote sensing data. This in an in-person position based at MTRI in Ann Arbor, MI (https://mtu.edu/mtri).

Responsibilities 

1. Acquire and process polarimetric SAR data for studying peatland ecosystems. Explain relationships between SAR observations and on-the-ground phenomenology, including vegetation characteristics and inundation.
2. Apply machine learning classification algorithms to high resolution imagery for locating invasive species.
3. Apply photogrammetry to UAV collected imagery to construct 3D models of natural environments.
4. Participate in research projects applying remote sensing, geospatial analysis, earth science knowledge, and analysis skills to solve project tasks for ongoing and new MTRI research projects, with the expectation of planning and coordinating research and development tasks in collaboration with other principal investigators.
5. Be able to deal with issues encountered in data processing and analysis to ensure scientifically valid data collection. Evaluate, select, and apply the results of data collected and research projects undertaken. Describe and share any concerns about the results or methodology and recommend or implement countermeasures.
6. Participate in fieldwork in challenging environments, including navigation in remote areas and following data collection protocols.
7. Contribute to competitive proposals including development of specific tasks that use and exploit remote sensing data and products.
8. Assess effectiveness of safety measures and training and implement necessary changes. Anticipate and recognize problems and potential problems at the individual and system levels. Recognize and respond appropriately to potential and actual unsafe situations.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

• Bachelor’s degree in geospatial engineering, or closely related field.

Required Experience

1. Participation in research projects applying remote sensing, geospatial analysis, earth science knowledge, and analysis skills.
2. Utilizing polarimetric SAR data for categorizing ecosystems.
3. Applying photogrammetry to high resolution UAV imagery.
4. Analysis and processing of remote sensing data using desktop software tools (e.g., ArcGIS Pro) or cloud-based platforms (e.g., eCognition).
5. Utilizing remote sensing data to map invasive species in the Great Lakes region.
6. Experience with assessing surface water and flooding datasets derived from remote sensing data.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

1. Experience with using Python to automate GIS processing tasks.
2. Experience with active sensor (SAR) data processing and analysis.
3. Experience with development, management, and documentation of large geospatial and remote sensing datasets.
4. Familiarity with machine learning techniques.
5. Experience working with large datasets with advanced computational systems (e.g., cloud computing, multi-processor supercomputing).
6. Experience with collecting field data with UAVs.
7. Experience with performing fieldwork (e.g. navigating via handheld GPS, following data collection protocols).
8. Georeferencing remote sensing data.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

1. Ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance, which requires United States citizenship. Obtaining a national security clearance while holding a dual citizenship will not be possible when the foreign country poses a risk to the national security of the United States.
2. Practical, demonstrated knowledge of using Python or a comparable programming language (ex. R, Matlab, C++, Julia, JavaScript) to process remote sensing data.
3. Ability to find, acquire, and process remote sensing datasets from state, federal, and international sources
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