Applications are now open for the Sydney Postdoctoral Fellowships. Full details are available here: 

Applicants must have an outstanding track record relative to opportunity in order to be short-listed. Successful applicants are expected to be based full-time at the University for the duration of the Fellowship and must not hold a concurrent paid appointment. Strong preference will be given to applicants seeking to join the University from another organisation in Australia or from overseas. Applicants must have a PhD award dated no earlier than 1 January 2008. Applicants with a PhD award dated later than 31 December 2012 are extremely unlikely to be competitive and should talk to the host Head of School to assess competitiveness before applying.

Starting salary will be A$99,000 (includes $83,998 base salary plus leave loading and up to 17% employer’s contribution to superannuation) and a total research support grant of A$25,000 is provided. The duration of the Fellowship is three years

Key deadlines:

Career Interruptions submitted to Research Portfolio: Tuesday 30 April 2013

Requests for School support: Friday 3 May 2013

Final closing date: Friday 31 May 2013

Before applicants can commence their on-line applications they must find a Sydney academic mentor and have secured support from the host School. Please contact Budiman.minasny@sydney.edu.au if you are qualified to apply, we are looking for postdoctoral fellow in the following research topics:

(1) Bayesian average modelling for improved model prediction

(2) Digital soil assessments

(3) Multisensor data fusion for proximal soil sensing

(4) Soil-landscape dynamic modelling

(5) Global space-time soil carbon modelling

(6) Bayesian hierarchical modelling for regional soil mapping

We have started the election process for the 4 Division and 44 Commission chairs and vice hairs. This is your chance to become actively involved in the IUSS and shape its future in the years 2014 to 2018. We are now seeking nominations for all positions, and a description of Division Chairs and Commission chairs and vice chairs is given here. Please send in your application before 31st March 2013. Your application should include the position, 100 word bio and homepage URL if available. It should be sent to:

Positions in Division 1: Prof. Karl Stahr at Karl.Stahr@uni-hohenheim.de
Positions in Division 2: Prof. Martin Gerzabek martin.gerzabek@boku.ac.at
Positions in Division 3: Prof. Rainer Horn at rhorn@soils.uni-kiel.de
Positions in Division 4: Prof. Mary Beth Kirkham mbk@ksu.edu

The timeline is as follows:
February 2013 – call for nominations
May 2013 – a list of candidates and their bios
1 August 2013 – the electronic election system will open and announced for voting
31st October 2013 – voting closes
1st January 2014 – announcement new IUSS Officers

We look forward receiving your application and candidacy.

ICRAF is in the process of recruiting for a Post-Doctoral Fellow – Geoscience Lab to be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Please see the vacancy announcement here.

Should you need any further information on this position, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Human Resource Unit, 

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Email  to:  icrafhru@cgiar.org

CIAT is announcing 8 new positions:

Scientists to provide leadership offering exciting scope for development of new directions:
1. Soils, Water, and Landscapes
2. Land Policy
3. Soil Health and Climate Change

Post Doctoral Scientists to bring innovation and new capacity supporting growth areas:
4. Landscape Modeling
5. Soil Science
6. Soils and Crop Modeling
7. Regional Evaluation of Soil Interventions

A Coordinator to provide close support to the Research Area Director and other scientists

8. Soils Research Area Coordinator

Job Reference: ESG ISR-0009
Job Title: Database/Programming specialist
Contact Person: Prem Bindraban (tel. 0317-480881)

We are seeking
A dedicated database specialist with extensive and proven programming skills. Major duties: • Responsible for the implementation, maintenance and daily operations of ISRIC’s spatially-enabled World Soil Information System (WOSIS) including development and testing of new procedures for the registration and inclusion of newly acquired data, quality assessment/control and versioning. • Development of web-based services with respect to ISRIC’s function as the ICSU-designated World Data Centre for Soil (includes user interfaces for data export and data import using Web2.0 techniques, Web Mapping Services, Web Feature Services, Web Processing Services) • Maintenance and development of UML schema for XML data exchange in the soil domain • Provide support to the ISRIC staff with respect to specific computational issues

Requirements
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in: – Managing and developing database- driven applications in a LINUX environment; – Keeping track of new developments in relevant knowledge fields supporting and maintaining PostgresSQL / PostGIS or similar database system; A minimum of 5 years’ experience in programming – Development of procedures in Python, PHP, JavaScript, and/or Java – Development of web applications / graphical user interfaces, preferably in Django – Minimum two-year degree in information technology, computer science, or related field – Familiar with Open Source Geoinformatics software. – Knowledge of environmental/soil science issues, and information analysis and data modelling. – proficiency in writing procedure manuals, instructions and presentations; proven track record, demonstrated by examples of output. – Good interpersonal and communication skills in English and at least one other language.

We offer

Scale 10 with maximum salary of 3755.00 (Euro’s gross per month) Social benefits including holiday and “end of year” allowances Contract duration: 2 years, with possibility for extension Maximum working hours per week: 38

We are
ISRIC – World Soil Information has a leading role in several large international projects aimed at developing a new soil map of the world (see www.isric.org), being one of the prime objectives of ISRIC. Awareness on the importance of soils in global developments has increased in the policy arena and society and it is now widely realized that soils play a key role in food production, climate change, maintenance of biodiversity, production of energy crops and the management of soil water.

Wageningen University and Research centre
Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That’s our focus – each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society – such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don’t do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on ‘the quality of life’, turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.

For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at www.jobsat.wur.nl.

Acquisition regarding this vacancy is not appreciated.

Engineer in Digital Soil Mapping position

Duration : 12 months
Location : INRA InfoSol, Orléans, France
Net monthly salary : 1563 €
Position available on February/March 2012

Context

The French programme on soil mapping aims to produce soil maps and associated databases at a scale of 1 :250,000. It is finalized on ca 80% of the French mainland territory. However, several areas are still missing. The objective is to take advantage of new technologies such as Digital Soil Mapping in order to facilitate the elaboration of soil maps where they are missing.

Work to carry on

One or two areas will be selected on the basis of the achievement priorities and of the availability of data. Several techniques of DSM will be tested, using available spatial data (ie. geological maps, digital elevation models, land cover maps, remote sensing data) either in supervised (ie. classifications, regressions etc. based on reference training areas) or unsupervised (ie. isocluster) methods. The work will be transferred to local partners for validation. Prediction maps should include an estimate of their accuracy. Results will be submitted to scientific journals.

Applicants

Applicants should be in possession of a Master of Science or a PhD.

They should send their CV and a cover letter. They can join letters from (and/or contact to) their previous employers or teachers, but this is not mandatory.

Skills may include : Soil science, mapping, GIS, classification and regression tools, remote sensing, etc. Fluent scientific English is recommended.

Contacts

Dominique.Arrouays@orleans.inra.fr
Marion.Bardy@orleans.inra.fr

ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICIAN

The British Geological Survey (BGS), founded in 1835 is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and is the world’s longest-established national geological survey and the UKs premier centre for earth science information and expertise. A vacancy has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Environmental Statistician at our headquarters in Keyworth.

You will apply statistical modelling to data sets generated across the range of BGS’s science and survey activities and will also provide statistical guidance to the scientific staff. In addition you will also contribute to quantitative modelling work in areas of BGS science where an understanding of spatially variable processes is necessary.

You should have a post-graduate qualification in statistics or environmental/earth science, with a significant statistical component, and subsequent applied experience. You should also have knowledge and experience of the application of spatial statistical methods in the earth sciences, including the use of geostatistical methods, ideally in a linear mixed model context. In addition you must possess good project management, people and communication skills, both oral and written. The post involves team working; therefore you should be able to work effectively with others.

Starting salary will be between £26,180 per annum and £37,120 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. Working hours will be 37 per week excluding lunch breaks. A generous benefits package is also offered, including a company pension scheme, childcare voucher scheme, 30 days annual leave plus 10.5 days public and privilege holidays.

Applications are handled by the RCUK Shared Services Centre; to apply please visit our job board at https://ext.ssc.rcuk.ac.uk and complete an online application form. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867003, Please quote reference number IRC40064
When using this website use Job area-Science

Location-NERC-British Geological Survey

Closing date for receipt of application forms is 20th January 2012

The Natural Environment Research Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. People with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. The British Geological Survey is an Investors in People organisation. There is a guaranteed Interview Scheme for suitable candidates with disabilities.