The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which drives change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands; divided over six faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes.
The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation using remote sensing and GIS.
The department of Earth Observation Science (EOS) is a multi-disciplinary scientific team, specializing in spatial information extraction and data quality analysis. It covers mathematics, statistics, and information science for earth observation.
The faculty ITC invites qualified persons to apply for the full-time position of PhD Candidate (promovendus) Air quality mapping in space and time.
Job Specification:
Air quality is of an increasing concern nowadays. It is more and more realized that a low quality has severe consequences for human health. Air quality is usually expensive to monitor as the spatial and temporal density of monitoring networks is limited and not sufficient to address current problems. This has led to the development of innovative, low cost sensor networks. These measure air quality at fine temporal and spatial resolutions. The AiREAS civil initiative (www.aireas.com) has installed such a network in the Dutch city of Eindhoven. It consists of 35 monitoring stations, located throughout the city and measures air quality at a 10 minute interval. The research problem concerns
- the development of appropriate techniques to evaluate the quality of low-cost sensor data;
- integrating data from different sources;
- making quality assuring spatiotemporal maps, including their uncertainties; such maps should support making of coherent statements that are of use to citizens and decision makers and can be linked to epidemiological analyses.
To do so, spatio-temporal statistical methods will have to be further developed and applied to the data.
The Stichting Technische Wetenschappen (STW: Netherlands Technological Foundation) in its Maps4Society (www.maps4society.nl) call has granted the project DAMAST that stands for Development of an Automatic system for Mapping Air quality risks in Space and Time. This project, carried out together with the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) of Utrecht University, aims to improve the compilation of dynamic 2D maps of air quality in an urban area. This is being undertaken in the context of the AiREAS civil initiative, which provides our stakeholder group.
Candidate Profile:
We seek a graduate in statistics, engineering, natural science or geoinformation science. You will be able to address the conceptual and technical challenges and are able to link with both the applied literature and with spatio-temporal statistics. You are flexible and learn skills outside your original study area. If you are an international applicant, a willingness to learn basic Dutch is advantageous.
You carry out research within the broader scope of acquisition and quality analysis of geo-spatial information. Research will focus on space-time statistical analysis for spatial data quality, mapping and data integration. This will lead to the design of a system that ensures that statistically relevant information is obtained for a range of users. You will set up an empirical panel study in the city of Eindhoven to investigate the relations with childhood asthma using the detailed air quality maps. You discuss and find solutions for formation acquisition and quality analysis problems emerging within this context. You contribute to MSc student supervision in this field. You participate actively in national and international professional societies.
You possess a MSc (or equivalent) preferably in the field of statistics, engineering, natural science, or geo-informatics with relevance to geo-spatial information. You have good knowledge of data quality and spatial statistics combined with basic knowledge in health issues in relation to air quality. You possess strong organisational skills and the ability to function in multi-disciplinary teams.
Deadline: Before 15 March 2015
How To Apply
Interested candidates are invited to send their application, detailed curriculum vitae and a letter elaborating the motivation for the application before 15 March 2015. Please locate this vacancy on http://www.utwente.nl/vacancies and select ‘apply here’ to fill out the application form.
Additional information about this position can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Ir. A. (Alfred) Stein (phone: +31 53 4874 552; e-mail: a.stein@utwente.nl) or Dr. Nicholas Hamm (phone: +31 53 4874 330; e-mail: n.hamm@utwente.nl).
