The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the national centre for research into the geosphere. With around 1,500 employees, we develop a sound understanding of systems and processes of the solid Earth as well as strategies and options for action to counter global change, understand natural hazards and sustainably secure energy and raw material requirements.

This position is part of the “ROTTnROCK” working group, a synergy project funded by the European Research Council. Candidates with expertise in the subject fields – remote sensing and volcano physics– are encouraged to apply. The position will be funded and also covers funds for computer power, field works, visiting conferences and workshops, and publication charges. By using innovative geospatial records and data science the candidate shall quantify the intensity, type, and spatial gradation of hydrothermal alteration. 

Your responsibilities:

• Analysing satellite data of volcanoes (using tristereo, radar, hyperspectral sensors) and compare alteration vs topography vs deformation over the last years and decades (using archive satellite data)
• Use small unoccupied aircraft systems that you will modify to carry miniature sensors. Data will be processed using computer vision concepts such as point cloud matching, image correlation and structure-from-motion (SfM) workflows, and morphology be studied using offset and change detection.
• Working on machine learning and/or classification and mineral mapping approaches, in order to quantify dimensions and controls of hydrothermal alteration
• Developing of 4D digital representations of volcanoes, including independent (geophysical) records
• Close collaboration with the rock mechanical labs, petrology labs and numerical modelling labs of partner institutes
• Strongly support MSc and PhD student activities on drone and hyperspectral surveying methods, monitoring the alteration sites and develop methods for tracing and linking alteration and structural/geomorphological changes at volcanoes
• Independently plan field expeditions in Greece, Iceland, Indonesia and elsewhere

Your qualifications:

• MSc (or equivalent) and PhD in Earth Science, with a focus on volcanotectonics and remote sensing
• Proven interest in volcanology
• Experience on using drones for change detection and pixel offset
• Experience on linking remote sensing and process modelling
• Experience 3D object reconstruction, structure from motion and point cloud analysis
• Experience in combining optical, thermal and spectral band information
• Experience in image classification 
• Experience in machine learning and/or principal component analysis
• Experience in using stereo optical, hyperspectral and SAR satellite imagery (e.g., Pleiades, EnMAP, TerraSAR-X)
• Understanding of volcano processes and specifically volcano slope instability
• Ability to plan to conduct independent field work 
• Drone pilot license is advantageous (level A1/A3)
• Good written and oral skills in English