The Institute for Applied remote Sensing is looking for an

Expert in vulnerability and risk assessment for climate change and natural hazard impacts

Background
The Institute for Applied Remote Sensing develops remote sensing applications for the Alps and other mountainous areas, addressing current environmental problems in the context of global change.
The institute is currently starting a number of European and regional projects dealing with concept development, indicator selection and application of vulnerability and risk assessments in the context of climate change and natural hazard impacts. The project work combines the challenge of theoretical concept improvement with a strong demand on technical skills needed for the integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques in the monitoring and mapping of vulnerabilities and risk.

Tasks

• Compare and assimilate existing vulnerability concepts from various scientific communities (e.g. climate change, natural hazards, food security).
• Develop, test and apply indicators for spatially explicit vulnerability towards climate change and natural hazards.
• Apply and improve quantitative approaches (multivariate statistics, classification) for analysing and modelling vulnerabilities and risks.
• Carry out complex spatially explicit vulnerability and risk assessments for regions in Europe.
• Supervise and/or apply advanced GIS techniques for data management, data analysis and up- and down scaling in the framework of mapping vulnerability and risks.
• Supervise the integration of remote sensing data and derivates into vulnerability and risk assessment.
  

Qualifications
Essential

• Master, diploma or comparable degree in a geo-scientific or other relevant field
• Three years of work experience at least partly in the field of climate change or natural hazards research
• Experience in spatially explicit vulnerability and/or risk assessments concepts and applications
• Profound know-how in statistics (multivariate statistics, classification, geostatistics)
• Basic GIS and remote sensing know-how
• Very good English skills
• Team skills and flexibility

Desirable

• PhD in a geo-scientific or other relevant field
• Scientific publications
• Advanced knowledge of GIS and remote sensing techniques and software (e.g. ArcGis, Erdas Imagine, ENVI, IDL)
• Experience in project management and scientific project proposal writing
• good German and / or Italian skills

We offer

• An interesting, highly responsible job in a young international team
• The opportunity for further qualification, including PhD
• Access to EURAC's numerous scientific and cultural facilities and events
• An attractive working place in a vivid city in the heart of the Alps with endless opportunities for skiing, hiking, climbing…

The contract will be issued for two years in a first instance with the option for extension at the end of this period.

How to apply
Interested candidates should submit their application in English (CV, publication list and cover letter) until 16.05.2008 to the address below. Electronic application (PDF) is appreciated.

European Academy Bolzano
Viale Druso 1 - 39100 Bolzano, Italy
e-mail: remote.sensing@eurac.edu
Tel: +39 0471 055 370
Fax: +39 0471 055 399
www.eurac.edu

Please add the following phrase to your CV otherwise your application will not be considered:
'I consent to the use of my personal data in accordance with the provisions of decree 196/2003.'