Norwegian Institute for Nature Research

NINA is an independent research institute organized as a foundation focusing its research on the interaction between human society, natural resources and biodiversity. NINA is the largest research institute in applied ecology in Norway with about 290 employees. The main office is located in Trondheim. NINA has also research units in Oslo, Lillehammer, Bergen and Tromsø. The present position will be at the Department of Arctic Ecology in Tromsø. The department holds around 35 employees and do research and monitoring on Arctic and boreal freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including wild salmonids, seabirds, wild and domestic ungulates, vegetation, climate effects on northern ecosystems, and sustainable societies. A large part of the employees are researchers, and we also have PhD’s, Post docs, Master students, technicians and administrative personnel.

The Department of Arctic Ecology at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in Tromsø announces a permanent position as a researcher in environmental and ecological remote sensing.

Information on NINA and its department in Tromsø

This department is a part of FRAM - High North Research Center for Climate and the Environment, commonly known as the Fram Center. The center includes 21 research institutions including UiT - Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Polar Institute and Institute for Marine Research. It also hosts the secretariat of the Arctic Council. With about 500 employees, the Fram Center institutions cover interdisciplinary research, consultancy, management, dissemination, natural sciences, social sciences and technology in the northern areas. The center is an important arena for climate and environmental research and policy.

NINA has research assignments for a wide range of clients, including the Ministry of Climate and Environment, environmental management agencies at local, regional and national levels, industry and international organizations. NINA researchers compete for funding from The Research Council of Norway, EU Horizon programs and from other research funding bodies.

NINA strongly encourages teamwork, and the advertised position is intended to collaborate closely with NINA’s existing research staff in Tromsø and at the other research units. Collaboration with external partners internationally and domestically is also encouraged.

Research topics relevant to the position include:

• Land cover classification, ecological state and drivers of change in boreal and arctic regions

• Vegetation and population monitoring and change detection, specifically related to biodiversity and biomass transitions.

• Integration of remotely sensed and other spatial data in combination with biological field measurements

• Advancing the application of remote sensing within terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecology (vegetation ecology and zoology)The position will involve some fieldwork both domestically and abroad.

For more information about NINA www.nina.no

Requirements and qualifications:

• The applicant holds a PhD in natural, environmental, physical or technical sciences and can document strong research and academic competence in some or all topics mentioned above.

• Applicants should have experience with programming in languages such as R, Python or JavaScript. The ability to work with a range of software/solutions (e.g. QGIS, GRASS GIS, GDAL, R, ESRI ArcGIS, ENVI, eCOGNITION, PCI), cloud computing platforms (e.g. Google Earth Engine, Sentinel Hub), and databasing solutions (e.g. PostgreSQL) would be a key asset.

• Furthermore, the ability to document experience with remote sensing methods and techniques (e.g. spectrometry, terrain analysis, machine learning, image processing, statistical modelling) in the field of ecology is an advantage.

• Abilities for interdisciplinary collaboration, creative thinking and willingness to learn will be considered an advantage.

• Emphasis will be placed on the ability of the candidate to conduct internationally competitive R&D, to collaborate in and with multidisciplinary research teams including international networks in RS, and to initiate projects and attract funding related to the research area.

• It is expected of the employee to learn Norwegian within reasonable time.

NINA offers:

• a workplace in one of Europe's leading environmental institutes• salary according to qualifications

• flexibility scheme

• good pension scheme and group life insurance

Tromsø offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life www.visittromso.no.

Having a population of ca. 75,000, Tromsø is a small city by international standards, it has low crime rates, little pollution, and easy access to a countryside with beautiful mountain areas perfect for skiing and trekking. Tromsø is also home to the world’s northernmost university. There will be a requirement to take up residence in or near Tromsø.

NINA works actively to recruit women, and women are therefore encouraged to apply. The working language in NINA is Norwegian.

Application with CV, submitted in English or a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish) must be sent by e-mail to siri.svendsen@nina.no. Diplomas and certificates will be requested later in the appointment process.

For further information about the position, please contact:

• Senior Researcher Jarle W. Bjerke, tel. +47 918 64 155, e-mail Jarle.bjerke@nina.no or
  
• Research Director Cathrine Henaug, tel. +47 928 20 753, e-mail cathrine.henaug@nina.no

Application deadline 7 January 2022.