Stilling:
Postdoctoral fellow within Data Acquisition and Analysis for the Agricultural Domain
Deadline: 07.04.2019
About the position
The Faculty of Science and Technology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant two-year postdoctoral position within automated data acquisition and analysis for the agricultural domain.
The postdoctoral fellow will be working on the project “Future Farm – Tomorrow’s digital solutions for the farmer”, a three-year research and innovation project partly funded by the Research Council of Norway (duration: 2018 - 2021). Project partners are TINE, Felleskjøpet, Yara, NMBU, University of Minnesota and inFuture.
The Future Farm project aims to increase animal welfare and reduce the environmental footprint of dairy farming. This will be achieved by using technology such as IOT, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mobile devices to examine the cross section between digitalization and farming.
In order to develop better digital solutions for dairy farmers, the project will focus on how to use data from the entire value chain in milk production, from data gathered in the field during planting and harvesting, data collected on the quality of the forage, data from feeding systems, and all the way through to animal health and milk quality.
The postdoctoral fellow will be working on how to collect these data, how to store them in a cloud-based solution, how to analyze them, and how to use the data to give specific suggestions to the farmer on how to optimize operation.
Main tasks
The main activities will be related to the following topics:
- Automated data acquisition in the field
- Data storage
- Data analysis, machine learning, AI
- Using data to make specific suggestions to the farmer on how to optimize operation
The main purpose of the postdoctoral position is to qualify for work in high-level scientific positions. A PhD degree is required.
The person appointed to the position will be expected to take an active part in the daily activities of the robotics group at REALTEK, including seminars, courses, etc..
It is also a goal for the position to contribute to collaborations in the field that lies between the robotics group and the data science group at NMBU. Data science is relevant to several of the academic communities working within the environmental sciences and biosciences at NMBU, and is especially important in fields of research at REALTEK. For this position, we are therefore looking for someone with excellent collaboration skills as well as academic skills.
Qualifications and skills
A relevant master degree in data science, engineering cybernetics, robotics, control, or similar, with very good results, is required. In addition, the candidate must have a completed PhD in a relevant topic as listed above, and must have shown outstanding achievements through his/her work as a PhD. The postdoctoral position will be awarded on a competitive basis. Emphasis will be put on personal qualities and potential as a world-class researcher.
Non-Norwegian-speaking candidates must, as a minimum, document proficiency in English and Norwegian. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) and Norwegian Bergen test. Minimum scores are:
- TOEFL: 600/ writing 4.5 (paper-based test), 92/ writing 22 (Internet-based test)
- IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted),
- CAE/CPE: grade B or A. Being a member of an interactive project team, successful candidates should have strong communication and cooperation skills.
Required academic qualifications
- Master and Phd in a relevant topic as listed above
- Proficiency in mathematical modeling and control, statistical methods
- Proficiency in machine learning, AI
- Excellent programming skills
Desired academic qualifications
- Research experience from data analysis within Life Sciences and Environmental Sciences
- Experience from working with big data
- Experience from large research projects or industry
Required personal skills
- Proficiency in both spoken and written English
- Result-oriented and highly motivated
- High work capacity
- Excellent collaboration skills
Desired personal skills:
- Ability to establish research networks
- Ability to work independently under varying conditions
- Ability to contribute to a good atmosphere in the research group
Remuneration and information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24, salary grade 59 -67, (NOK 515 200 - 597 400), depending on qualifications. Seniority promotion in position.
For further information, please contact:
- Professor Pål Johan From by e-mail: pafr@nmbu.no or by phone: +47 90690932
Application
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.
Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to present verified copies of diplomas and certificates.
Application deadline: April 7th 2019
Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as most relevant must be attached to the application. If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant’s part of the work is suggested.
Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within April 7th 2019
Please quote reference number 19/00980