Postdoctoral research position adapting astronomical software to protect endangered animal species

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position adapting astronomical software for use on aerial drone footage, to help ecologists protect endangered animal species and conserve Earth’s biodiversity. The successful applicant will work with the Astro-Ecology group at the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University led by Steve Longmore. In collaboration with Serge Wich, a conservation biologist at the university, the group is tackling one of the main challenges in drone/conservation research — efficiently extracting pertinent science information from the exponentially growing volumes of video data being produced. The successful applicant will work with other PhD students and postdocs in the group to (i) adapt the existing automatic, thermal-infrared, detection/identification, machine-learning pipeline for use in the field, and (ii) take the system to world-renowned National Parks (such as Chitwan in Nepal) with whom Prof. Wich works closely, to monitor and protect some of the last remaining Indian rhinos, tigers and elephants on the planet.

Applicants must have, or have recently submitted, a PhD in Astronomy, Physics or related scientific discipline. Experience with thermal-infrared imaging, machine-learning and imaging/detection pipeline development is desirable, but not required. The position will be for 9 months and the applicant must be able to start on April 1 2017.

To apply, send a cover letter, CV with bibliography, and details of previous research experience to [email protected]. Two letters of recommendation should be sent directly to  [email protected] with the subject line “Astro-Ecology Letter of Recommendation for [Applicant Name]". Applications received by March 1 2017 will receive full consideration.