PhD Admission in the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA

PhD Admission : The University of Missouri, Columbia, seeks a Ph.D. candidate to focus on innovative proximal and remote sensing technologies for crop biomass and soil studies. The successful applicant will integrate proximal sensing data with UAV and satellite imagery, digital soil information, and real-time weather analytics. The project uses advanced machine learning algorithms to accurately estimate above and below-ground biomass, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices.

This research is pivotal for enhancing the monitoring and management of over 50 million hectares of US pasturelands, connecting technological advancements with ecosystem outcomes. The candidate will join a network of academic collaborations with UK universities.

The position promises a significant opportunity to impact sustainable agriculture through high-impact research.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest in the project

• Experience in modeling (machine learning algorithms)

• Experience in remote sensing (e.g.. Google Earth Engine, SentinelHub, ArcGIS)

• Experience in programming (e.g., Python, R) Publication track record in a field relevant to the project (e.g., agriculture, modeling, remote sensing)

Desirable :

• Experience working with crop biomass

• Experience in the use and/or interpretation of radar data.

• Experience and qualifications in piloting UAVS (e.g., drones) and processing UAV-based data (e.g., photogrammetry, multispectral images).

Period of the project: three years, with a possible extension to a period of four years

Assistantship: $32,000.00

Starting date: May-Jun 2024

Location: Based in the University of Missouri, Columbia, United States. The student will have opportunities to travel to and study at Cranfield University, UK.

Further information:

Dr Bernardo Candido, email: bernardocandido@missouri.edu

Dr Rob Kallenbach email:kallenbachr@missouri.edu

Application procedure :

Applicants should submit a CV (hyperlink publications), contact info for two referees, and a cover letter detailing their qualifications, research experience, and motivation (rationale for why they are the best candidate for the project) to Dr Bernardo Candido (bernardocandido@missouri.edu), with "Remote Sensing PhD" in the subject line.

Closing date : Apr 15th 2024