Research Associate: Forest Inventory AI & Open-Set Vision

Diversity Dashboard; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Hybrid working opportunities

Generous pension scheme

Discounts and rewards

Job summary

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Associate to join the Next-Generation Forest Inventory (NextGen-FI) project, developing AI and remote sensing methods for forest monitoring and illegal logging detection. The postholder will collaborate closely with academic and stakeholder partners.

The role focuses on automated tree species mapping using UAV data, open-set recognition, foundation models, multimodal and uncertainty-aware, incremental learning to build adaptable AI

Qualifications

• PhD in computer science, remote sensing, ecology or related discipline (Essential)
• Experience developing ML/DL methods (Essential)
• Python programming with ML/DL frameworks (Essential)
• Experience with image/remote sensing data (Essential)
• Research outputs appropriate to career stage (Essential)
• Strong written and oral communication
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience with UAV/RPAS or multispectral imagery and GIS software such as QGIS (Desirable)
• Knowledge of open-set recognition, long-tailed learning, uncertainty-aware learning, incremental learning or foundation models (Desirable)

Responsibilities

• Undertake research within NextGen-FI work packages contributing to AI-enabled forest inventory
• Develop and evaluate ML/DL methods for tree species mapping using UAV imagery
• Investigate open-set recognition to handle unseen species
• Develop uncertainty-aware and continual learning approaches
• Process UAV/geospatial data and conduct validation experiments
• Contribute to software tools, including a QGIS plugin for forest monitoring
• Collaborate with academic and stakeholder partners and disseminate findings
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the post

Skills

Python

ML/DL methods

Geospatial analysis

Open-set recognition

Communication

Education

PhD in computer science/remote sensing

Tools

QGIS

UAV data processing

Job description

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Associate to join the Next-Generation Forest Inventory (NextGen-FI) project, developing AI and remote sensing methods for forest monitoring and illegal logging detection. The postholder will collaborate closely with academic and stakeholder partners.

The role focuses on automated tree species mapping using UAV data, open-set recognition, foundation models, multimodal and uncertainty-aware, incremental learning to build adaptable AI