PhD scholarship Sensor technology within precision agriculture
Deadline: 03.08.2020
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.
Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.
NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In 2021 we are co-located on Ås. Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.
About The Faculty of Science and Technology
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN's sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.
This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.
Interested in drones and imaging?
We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with experience in precision farming and learning in sensor technology.
About the position
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant three-year PhD–position related to sensor technology and -methodology within precision agriculture.
The world population of 7.6 billion (2017) is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030 and 9.8 billion in 2050. The world will need 70 per cent more food, as measured by calories, to feed the global population in 2050 (UN,2013 and 2017). In addition, the agricultural production has to be environmental-friendly including migration of CO2 equivalents and use of fertilizer and pesticide among others. To benefit of precision agriculture, adequate sensor and data collection technology adapted for Norwegian agriculture and conditions are of high importance.
The PhD candidate will join a research group at NMBU REALTEK within imaging, GNSS/GIS, data science and sensor technology in cooperation also with researchers within plant, soil and fertilizer science at the Campus.
The main topic will be ‘Novel and adapted sensor technology for quick estimation of important parameters within precision agriculture.’
The methods will be studied and evaluated by executing field experiments combined with laboratory measurements.
Main tasks
The main goals behind the PhD project are:
To develop sensor technology and methodology in order to examine the influence of different seeding depth of cereals as well as amount of seeds due to even germination response and healthy plant growth. Important tools will be imaging by the use of drones or robots in the field at different treatments.
Use of IR cameras in order to detect poor drainage quality at an early stage
Other tasks may be included in cooperation with the candidate.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Qualification requirements, desired experiences, knowledge and personal qualities
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master's degree level. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required Academic qualifications
MSc degree or similar in one of the following disciplines within agriculture:
Engineering and processing
Control engineering
Sensor technology
Precision agriculture
Imaging and spectral analysis
The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:
Insight in Norwegian agricultural mechanization and state of art of precision agriculture.
Familiar with the most potential sensor technologies in precision agriculture.
Knowledge about plant and soil in an agronomic perspective
Required personal skills
High degree of motivation
Curiosity
Ability to work and co-operate in an interdisciplinary group
Ability to work independently
Good communication skills
Fluent in English (written and oral)
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 479.600) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Terms of employment are governed by Norwegian guidelines for PhD fellowships at Universities and University Colleges.
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: 03.08.2020
Applications should include (electronically) a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, full publication list, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified), and a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
Publications should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant NMBU Department may require further documentation, e.g. proof of English proficiency.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 03.08.2020. Please quote reference number 20/02076.
If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
