Research Associate (Remote Sensing of Irrigated Croplands)

We are seeking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to play a key role in delivering two major international projects (TRANSCEND and IrrEO) that are supporting sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The IrrEO and TRANSCEND projects are led by Dr Tim Foster, PI of the Agriculture, Water and Climate Research Group and Director of the Manchester Environmental Research Institute (MERI).

Expanding irrigation is critical for climate adaptation, improving food security, and supporting economic development. However, the ability to design and implement effective irrigation investments is greatly limited by a lack of data on the current extent of irrigation and how irrigated areas have responded to past investments. Lack of information about the changing dynamics of irrigated agriculture also poses risks to water resource sustainability, in particular in small-scale farming systems.

The PDRA will develop satellite-based mapping tools to improve data for governments, financing and development actors about the changing extent of irrigated agriculture, and use these data to support targeting, assessment, and monitoring of irrigation projects and investments. The PDRA will contribute to two projects:

1. IrrEO – a Gates Foundation funded project that is developing national-scale irrigated area and agricultural field mapping algorithms for governments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The PDRA will contribute to development of machine and deep learning mapping algorithms in one of the IrrEO’s case study countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya) to evaluate the dynamics of small-scale irrigated agriculture and support the development of an interactive irrigation mapping toolbox for government and end users.
2. TRANSCEND – a UKRI and EU funded project that is developing transformational adaptation policies to improve allocation and management of scarce water resources. The PDRA will support the development of an EO-based mapping tool to assess historical changes in cropland areas and water use in the Altiplano region of South America using Landsat imagery and Random Forest models. Working with other organisations in TRANSCEND consortium (IMDEA Water, Spain, Stockholm Environment Institute, Latin America), you will apply these data to support evaluation and design of demand- and supply-side policies to address inter-sectoral and transboundary water competition and conflict in the region.

The PDRA will be an integral part of the UoM team working on both the IrrEO and TRANSCEND projects, including co-investigators and a large team of PDRA’s and PhD researchers. The PDRA will also collaborate closely with non-academic partners for both projects, including national governments, river basin agencies, international agencies and development donors.

Due to the nature of the funding, this post is available for an initial fixed term of 24 months with a target start date in late 2025 or early January 2025. Due to funding it is expected that the role will be split between the TRANSCEND and IrrEO projects in the first year, with time then fully devoted to the IrrEO project.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr Tim Foster, Reader in Water-Food Security and Director of Manchester Environmental Research Institute (MERI)

Email: timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.