Postdoctoral Scholar in Urban Remote Sensing and Climate Impact
Position Overview
Organization: Urban Design & Planning
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar in Urban Remote Sensing and Climate Impact
Position Details
Position Description
The Urbanization and Health Lab at the University of Washington invites applications for a one-year (potentially renewable for a second year) full time postdoctoral researcher position funded by NASA. The researcher will utilize multi-decadal satellite imagery and deep learning techniques to analyze temporal trends in urban structure and their impacts on microclimate, focusing on extreme heat. Under the mentorship of the PI Dr. Karen Chen, the postdoc will collaborate with the MedRIN network to disseminate findings enhancing innovation, rigor, and open access for scientific communities in the Mediterranean region, supporting policy interventions for at-risk regions. The annual salary for this position is $68,460.
The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with Dr. Karen Chen to achieve the following objectives:
1. Characterize 3-D Urban Structure and Change: Utilize data from multiple remote-sensing platforms and deep learning algorithms to generate high-resolution maps of 3-D urban structure metrics since 2000.
2. Assess the Effects of 3-D Urban Structure on Extreme Humid Heat: Analyze variations in humid heat using Landsat thermal bands, MODIS, and humidity data, modeling how urbanization impacts humid heat stress across Mediterranean coastal cities over two decades.
Optional Research Opportunity: Utilize social media data and natural language models to analyze the geography of outdoor activities and psychological stress.
Duties/Responsibilities
The researchers will contribute specifically through:
- Gathering data, developing and implementing machine learning models, and interpreting findings.
- Writing journal articles and project progress reports.
- Assisting with grant management, including supervising project students.
- Organizing data and code repositories for promoting open science and replicable research.
- Traveling in the US and internationally (e.g., Greece or Turkey) for fieldwork, collaboration, and conferences.
- Contributing to other related tasks as required.
Qualifications
- Strong quantitative training, including coding skills in R and Python, and satellite imagery analysis.
- Good communication skills in English.
- Ph.D. or foreign equivalent in geography, remote sensing, environmental science, urban planning, engineering or relate field.
- No more than 3 years of total postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment per University of Washington policy.
Instructions
Application materials:
- C.V.
- Cover letter - Please briefly describe your interest in this position.
- Two contact references
- Diversity Statement - No more than 500 words. The diversity statement should address leadership, commitment, and experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Please apply as early as possible because applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.