Scientist - Remote Sensing of Ecosystems

VITO develops technology to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable society and economy. One of the key technologies applied in this context is Remote Sensing. The Remote Sensing Unit of VITO celebrated last year its 25^th anniversary but Remote Sensing has never been more fascinating than today. With the increasing number of satellites, drones, processing facilities and technologies like artificial intelligence, the opportunities with remote sensing are larger than ever.

Meanwhile the Remote Sensing team of VITO counts more than 100 motivated scientists, IT engineers, economists and project managers. To facilitate the growth of our ambitions we are looking for an extra colleague, more specifically a Remote Sensing scientist who is or wants to become an expert in the monitoring of ecosystems and/or Natural Capital Accounting.

Your Tasks:

As part of a flexible team you will be working on projects for institutional clients like the European Commission, EUROSTAT, the European Space Agency, or UN bodies. Occasionally there could be commercial customers. This function requires sound skills in remote sensing, data science, biodiversity & ecosystem concepts, and coding in an operational context. Knowledge of the concepts of Natural Capital Accounting would be a strong asset.

The tasks should be executed with high degree of independency, though in close collaboration with the internal and external team members. In VITO you will report on the progress of your work to the team lead of the Natural Capital Accounting team, outside VITO you will communicate on your work in meetings with clients or partners.

Concerning the projects, you will operate in an international setting and take initiative to liaise with project partners of different consortia. Good communication skills with project partners, end-users and stakeholders are a must.

• You have a Master or PhD degree in exact sciences, applied sciences, bioscience engineering, civil engineering, or agronomy;
• You have a thematic background in environmental sciences;
• You have at least 5 years of hands-on experience in remote sensing research projects;
• You have sound programming skills in Python, R or C++;
• You have proven expertise in remote sensing data processing, geo-information systems, statistics and big data analysis;
• Knowledge of the concepts of Natural Capital Accounting or Ecosystems monitoring is a strong asset; as well expertise in applying machine learning techniques on remote sensing data;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English is key;
• You have a strong interest to work in an international environment.

Offer

• We work activity based; our activities lead us to our location. Hybrid work arrangements and/or working in a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Ghent, Ostend or Genk is possible.
• A competitive salary with a range of benefits, including allowances, insurance and a modular package of holidays.
• Innovation is our asset, so it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to take additional training courses and stay up-to-date in their field. You will always have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and discover new technologies.
• You will have the opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific consultancy.
• With us, you will contribute directly to sustainable developments at local, national and global level through your innovative applications. You provide answers to contemporary societal challenges.
• Moreover, we highly value a good work-life balance at VITO! This is achieved by adopting a flexible attitude depending on your specific needs.

Are you the experienced, highly motivated candidate we are looking for? Don't hesitate and apply now!