Remote sensing and Agronomical modeling Engineer

Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier; France; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The Centre d’Études Spatiales de la BIOsphère (CESBIO) at Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier seeks a highly qualified researcher to advance biomass and carbon monitoring within AgriCarbon-EO. The role combines satellite data processing, modeling and calibration for crops and cover crops, using machine learning to enhance biomass estimates.

You will collaborate with industrial partners and international teams, contribute to Horizon Europe projects, and produce technical reports and

Qualifications

• Master degree or equivalent and background in computer science, ecology, or geosciences.
• Experience with satellite data processing and environmental modeling is required.
• Strong programming skills in Python and ability to communicate in English and French.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-resolution biomass and carbon monitoring methods in AgriCarbon-EO v2.0.
• Calibrate, adapt and validate models for crops and cover crops using satellite data.
• Test machine learning approaches to estimate biomass and integrate results into the workflow.
• Analyze outputs in relation to crop species, climate variability and regional conditions.
• Collaborate with partners and prepare technical reports and presentations.

Skills

Satellite data processing

Biophysical variable retrieval

Crop and soil modeling

Python

English and French communication

Education

Master Degree or equivalent

Job description

Organisation/Company Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier Department Univers Planète Espace Environnement Research Field Computer science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 11 Nov 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 4 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe (other) Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Centre d’Études Spatiales de la BIOsphère (CESBIO) is a public research laboratory dedicated to advancing our understanding of continental surface processes and their interactions with climate and human activities. CESBIO scientists make extensive use of remote sensing technologies to monitor environmental changes across spatial and temporal scales and to develop models that address key societal challenges related to climate change, food security, and water resources. The laboratory also plays a central role in the development and promotion of Earth Observation, contributing to the design, implementation, and scientific exploitation of numerous satellite missions. CESBIO is a Joint Research Unit bringing together the CNES, CNRS, IRD, INRAe and the University of Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier.

Within CESBIO, you will belong to the Agroecosystems Team and operate within the AgriCarbon-EO group, which develops data-driven methods combining remote sensing, modeling, and field observations to monitor agricultural systems and carbon dynamics. AgriCarbon-EO supports the development of Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) tools for sustainable agriculture and carbon farming, contributing to national and European carbon initiatives.

Your activities will also be linked to the Horizon Europe CAFAMORE project, which aims to strengthen European capacity for carbon farming monitoring and reporting by integrating Earth Observation, agroecosystem models, and in-situ measurements. Through CAFAMORE, CESBIO contributes to advancing methods for crop biomass mapping and soil organic carbon assessment and for evaluating the impact of agricultural practices on cropland carbon budgets

AgriCarbon-EO is an integrated Earth Observation and modeling framework developed at CESBIO to monitor agricultural systems and support the transition toward carbon-smart farming. The platform combines multi-sensor satellite data with crop and soil models to estimate biomass production, soil organic carbon dynamics, and greenhouse gas fluxes at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Designed for both scientific research and operational applications, AgriCarbon-EO provides Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) tools that help quantify the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. It is actively developed in collaboration with research institutions, public agencies, and industrial partners to enhance the use of remote sensing in sustainable agriculture and carbon accounting.

The engineer will contribute to the development and implementation of high-resolution biomass and carbon monitoring approaches within the AgriCarbon-EO v2.0 framework. His/her main duties will include:

• Model calibration, adaptation and validation:
  • Build upon previous work carried out by the AgriCarbon-EO group, which produced estimates of crop biomass at high spatial resolution.
  • Adapt and calibrate the model to simulate new crops and cover crops
  • Test a machin learning method combined with satellite data o estimate the crop/cover crop biomass and eventually assimilate this information in AgriCarbon-EO (on top of Leaf Area Index)
  • Validate the parametrisation/formulation with in-situ biomass data.
• Analysis and interpretation:
  • Analyze simulation outputs in relation to crop species, cover crop melanges,climate variability, andregional conditions.
  • Contribute to the assessment of carbon dynamics in cultivated ecosystems.
• Collaboration and communication:
  • Exchange with the partners of the project that have provided the in-situ data to better interpret the results,
  • Contribute to the communication and dissemination of methods and results to scientists involved in the project and to external stakeholders.

Requirements

Research Field Computer science Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Technical expertise:
  • Proven experience in satellite data processing (e.g., Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, or similar optical and radar sensors).
  • Exprience inbiophysical variable retrieval and/orcrop and soil modeling.
  • Good programming skills in Python.
• Scientific and analytical skills:
  • Ability to analyze geospatial datasets and interpret results in relation to agricultural practices, climate variability, and carbon dynamics.
  • Experience in data validation, uncertainty assessment, or statistical modeling is an asset.
• Project and communication skills:
  • Capacity to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment and with industrial partners (e.g., Airbus, Agrosolutions).
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
  • Ability to preparetechnical reports,scientific deliverables, andpresentations for project meeting

Additional Information

Selection process

CESBIO is identified as a security restrictive zone (ZRR) laboratory. Candidate is required to follow a authorization process to be granted access. He will also required to follow closely the security guidance rules once recruited.

Additional comments

Contract duration: 1 year

Salary: based on experience (between 2700 € and 3000 € per month gross income)