PostDoc in Optical and Microwave Remote Sensing of Forest Water Dynamics 80-100% (f/m/d)

Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL

6d

About The Position

The Remote Sensing group of the Land Change Science Research Unit at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is hiring a postdoctoral researcher for the HydraSense research project. The project develops approaches combining optical and microwave remote sensing to monitor tree water dynamics and identify critical thresholds associated with drought-induced forest mortality.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop and evaluate methods to retrieve vegetation water content from optical and microwave observations, including SWIR spectroscopy, multi-frequency (1.4–6.9 GHz) radiometry, and Global Navigation Satellite System Transmissometry (GNSS-T). The role includes supporting deployment and operation of GNSS-T receivers and ground-based microwave radiometers, and conducting in-situ measurements at the Pfynwald experimental forest site in Switzerland. The researcher will process, analyze, and integrate multi-sensor observations; assess their sensitivity to vegetation water content; and develop methods to distinguish water-related signals from structural effects using terrestrial laser scanning data.

In collaboration with tree hydraulics experts at the PERL Lab of EPFL, led by Prof. Charlotte Grossiord, the researcher will relate remote-sensing signals to field and laboratory measurements of tree water status and hydraulic vulnerability. They will publish results in international scientific journals and present them at scientific conferences. The position is 80–100% and lasts two years, with the possibility of extension. It is expected to start in February 2027 or by agreement.

Requirements

• PhD in remote sensing, geophysics, electrical engineering, environmental physics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Strong technical background in optical and/or microwave remote sensing.
• Proficiency in scientific programming, such as Python or MATLAB.
• Skills in quantitative data analysis and development of remote-sensing retrieval methods.
• Motivation to work across disciplines and apply technical expertise to forest ecology and plant water relations.
• Willingness to participate in intensive field measurement campaigns.
• High degree of independence, initiative, and scientific curiosity.
• Enjoyment of collaborative research.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in spectroscopy, radiometry, electromagnetic modelling, or processing and interpretation of multi-sensor observations.
• Experience with field-based instrumentation or sensor calibration.
• Experience with radiative transfer modelling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate methods for retrieving vegetation water content from optical and microwave observations, including SWIR spectroscopy, multi-frequency radiometry, and GNSS-T.
• Contribute to the deployment and operation of GNSS-T receivers and ground-based microwave radiometers.
• Conduct in-situ measurements at the Pfynwald experimental forest site in Switzerland.
• Process, analyze, and integrate multi-sensor observations.
• Investigate the sensitivity of observations to vegetation water content.
• Develop methods to disentangle water-related signals from structural effects using terrestrial laser scanning data.
• Collaborate with EPFL tree hydraulics experts to relate remote-sensing signals to field and laboratory measurements of tree water status and hydraulic vulnerability.
• Publish results in international scientific journals and present them at scientific conferences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree