Research Officer II GIS at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities  

Purpose

• Map climate vulnerability indicators and other abiotic risks with satellite image time series and GIS datasets;
• Geospatial modelling of suitability sites and patterns for climate smart agricultural technologies; 
• Map crop area and yield, cropping system, intensification and diversification models using satellite or drone data and crop models,  develop methods for assessment of climate-driven production losses;
• Apply rice area/yield data to climate derisking and financial resilience activities, e.g. crop insurance in context of extreme climatic  events;
• Development of precision agriculture approach including nutrient/water stresses, weeds and diseases mapping and control;
• Facilitate the execution and implementation of additional planned Geospatial activities in close coordination with the supervision team, local National partners and other stakeholders.

Engagement

• Acquire and process remotely sensed time series to extract information from multiple sensors (optical, SAR) and platform;
• Coordinate and implement field data collection campaigns; develop innovation field – drone approach for model calibration and validation;
• Organize and maintain project database, including field data, imagery, and geospatial datasets; ensure quality data quality control;
• Analyze the datasets, and contribute to the writing of reports, research papers and other communication material
• Work closely with project team members to ensure full understanding of the scope, priorities, and deadlines of the activities;
• Assist project leaders and/or collaborating partners to define the scope of research activities;
• Collaborate with scientists at IRRI, collaborating research institutes, and the private sector to develop new research products;
• Inform the immediate supervisor on the development of activities, image processing, and geospatial based activities.

Delivery

• Ensure timely delivery of processed geospatial datasets and products;
• Collect, store and curate data generated from the analytics; ensure the generation of quality field datasets;
• Ensure the timely completion of high-quality research deliverables;
• Communicate research results and new ideas in a broad array of outlets, including peer-reviewed journals, mass media, policy fora as well as national and international scientific conferences ;
• Any other tasks as assigned by Supervisor and supervision team.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Geospatial Science, Agriculture, Geography, Environmental Science, or other related discipline with at least 5 years’ relevant research experience in Remote Sensing and GIS in agriculture;  
• Sound capabilities in acquiring, processing, and analysing a range of remotely sensed datasets, including multispectral, hyperspectral and synthetic aperture radar imagery, satellite and airborne imagery;
• Experience in crop types mapping, vegetation phenology, cropping system mapping, database management and data curation, data quality insurance;
• Proven knowledge of field data collection (including protocol development);
• Experience in publishing research papers and writing reports;
• Good working knowledge of remote sensing and GIS software, database and software such as ERDAS, ENVI and e-Cognition and drone image processing tools like Pix4D, Agisoft and other open source package;
• Substantial experience in scripting/programming languages such as R and Google Earth Engine, python, etc;
• Experience in flying drones;
• Experience of any of statistical analysis packages and logical development development of models;
• Experience working with large team and different disciplines;
• Experience with working on multiple remote sensing datasets like satellite & drone images;
• Knowledge of agricultural systems is a plus;