Postdoctoral Fellow – Modelling Land Use Change

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Department/Faculty 

This position is within the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (REES), part of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences (ALES) at the University of Alberta. This position will be co-supervised by Drs. Feng Qiu and Vic Adamowicz. 

Position Summary 

The successful candidate will work closely with Drs. Feng Qiu and Vic Adamowicz as well as an interdisciplinary team of experts on a land use project. The primary focus is on land use change modeling, emphasizing peatland dynamics in Canada, using spatial econometrics and machine learning methodologies. The role is crucial to the “Modelling Peatland Disturbance/Conversion in Alberta” project funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. This project examines baseline trajectories for peatlands under alternative possible policy and economic futures with the intent of using this baseline as the benchmark for evaluation of climate change policy measures. 

Position Duration 

The position begins with a one-year appointment. Based on performance, extensions may be granted, with the possibility of extending up to three years. 

Compensation and Benefits 

The salary ranges from $60,000 to $65,000 CAN per annum. In addition, this position offers a benefits package as outlined in Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits. 

Duties

Key Responsibilities Include 

• Collecting and analyzing peatland land cover and disturbance data. 
• Constructing land use change models that identify driving factors and project future peatland disturbances. 
• Building theoretical and empirical land use models using spatial econometrics and machine learning. 
• Preparing presentations, drafting reports, and composing academic publications. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Educational Background: Ph.D. in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics, or a related discipline. 
• Econometrics: Demonstrated proficiency, especially in spatial econometrics. 
• Machine Learning: Solid understanding and hands-on experience. 
• Land Use Modeling: Experience in managing and manipulating spatial data sets and in land use change modeling. 
• GIS Software: Familiarity with tools like ArcGIS or QGIS. 
• R Programming: Proficient in tidyverse packages for data manipulation and visualization; skilled with sf, star, and spatialreg for feature analysis, raster data handling, and spatial econometrics. 
• Python Programming: Experience using libraries such as Scikit-learn for diverse machine-learning tasks. 

Other Desired Attributes 

• Prior exposure to land use modeling. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in high-quality scientific writing. 
• Strong academic record. 
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to collaborate in a diverse team environment. 
• Strong multitasking abilities and outstanding time management skills.  

Modelling Peatland Disturbance/Conversion in Alberta Project Overview 

This research is designed to: 

• Establish a baseline for peatland disturbance rates, unveiling the expected trajectory for Alberta. 
• Delve into the intricate relationship between peatland types, disturbances, and carbon emissions. 
• Identify and quantify the principal drivers of peatland disturbance (economic, policy, social) and project changes in peatland dynamics under different scenarios. 
• Examine the economic viability of peatland conservation initiatives. 
• Share valuable policy insights for optimizing peatland management in Alberta and Canada. 

Applications should encompass a CV, academic transcripts, a description of previous research experiences in environmental/agricultural economics, and three reference letters.

How to Apply
Interested candidates can directly apply by clicking the \"Apply Online\" link on the job posting webpage provided below:
https://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A108451926/