Research Associate (m/f/d)

The Institute of Geo-Hydroinformatics at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to contribute to the assessment and monitoring of soil salinity across Europe using advanced Earth Observation technologies. The position is embedded within a large international research initiative addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges affecting soil health, agricultural productivity, water resources, and ecosystem functioning.

The successful candidate will develop and apply hyperspectral remote sensing and geospatial analysis approaches to monitor soil salinization processes, identify salinity hotspots, and investigate their interactions with environmental and human-induced drivers. The position offers the opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary and international consortium of leading research institutes, universities, and stakeholders, while contributing to scientific advances in Earth Observation, environmental monitoring, and sustainable land management.

YOUR TASKS

• Develop and apply remote sensing methods for monitoring and mapping soil salinity across Europe
  
• Process and analyze Earth Observation and geospatial datasets to identify salinity hotspots and assess their spatial and temporal dynamics
  
• Investigate interactions between soil salinity, environmental drivers, and land management practices
  
• Integrate remote sensing, field, and laboratory observations to support the development of European soil salinity datasets
  
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals, present at international conferences, and contribute to stakeholder engagement & outreach activities
  

YOUR PROFILE

Requirements

• Completed scientific university studies (masters degree or equivalent), in particular in the subject Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Environmental Engineering, Earth System Science, Hydrology, Soil Science or a related discipline
  
  

Desired knowledge and personal skills 

• Background in remote sensing, Earth Observation, and environmental data analysis
  
• Experience with processing satellite, and geospatial datasets and programming in Python and/or R
  
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to work independently within an international and interdisciplinary research team
  
• Experience in soil salinity assessment, soil spectroscopy, and hyperspectral remote sensing is desirable
  
  

OUR OFFER

• Close supervision and strong support for PhD completion
• 30 day vacation per year (5-days a week)
• Good public transport connections
• Company pension scheme, capital-forming benefits
• Internal offers for health promotion and special conditions in gyms
  

At the heart of TU Hamburg’s research, teaching and transfer of technology is the guiding principle of developing technology for people. The TU Hamburg sees itself in this context as a family-friendly and sustainable university with high performance and quality standards that strives for excellence in all its research fields. Interdisciplinarity, innovation, regionality and internationality are binding principles in our actions.

With currently around 8.000 students, 110 professors and 1.650 employees, the TU Hamburg is characterised by short decision-making processes and close cooperation between the board, the institutes, the deans of studies, the research areas and the administration. We identify ourselves with a modern leadership culture and cultivate appreciative interaction.

For further information please contact Dr. Mehdi Afshar, Email: mehdi.afshar@tuhh.de.