Job opportunities at RMCA & CSL (Belgium) and ECGS (Luxemburg)
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PHD AND POST DOC OPPORTUNITIES ANNOUNCEMENT
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The European Center For Geodynamics and Seismology (ECGS - Luxemburg)
The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA - Belgium)
The Spatial Centre of Liège (CSL - Belgium)
are seeking candidates for:
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2 POST DOC FOR 2 YEARS
2 PHD FOR 3 TO 4 YEARS
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These 4 successful candidates will strongly interact between each other and with the scientific institutes involved in the “RESIST” project (see below).
****THE CONTEXT****
The Kivu rift area is part of the East African rift system. It is also the most-populated region of Central Africa and exposed at the same time to one of the highest level of geohazards on the continent. This studied region includes the Virunga Volcanic Province (VVP) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), western Rwanda and Burundi, as well as southwest Uganda. That area cumulates a rare combination of seismic, volcanic and landslide hazards (with highly variable recurrence rates and potential impact) in conjunction with increased demographic pressure which makes Kivu particularly threatened by natural disasters.
****THE PROJECT****
The RESIST project is the continuation of a long-standing research lead by the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), the National Museum for Natural History (NMNH) and the European Centre of Geodynamic and Seismology (ECGS). RESIST partners are RMCA, NMNH, the Spatial Centre of Liège (CSL), the Belgium Institute of Spatial Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). RESIST is targeting the understanding of the source mechanisms driving volcanic eruptions and landslides in the region by 1) filling the gap of knowledge on ground-based level through the installation of the densest seismic and infrasound network ever deployed in the region and first UV camera for SO2 monitoring and 2) combining this information with innovative Earth Observation approaches, using both archived data and new spaceborne data in radar, optic, gas and precipitation monitoring. RESIST will exploit ground-based instrument networks, field surveys and modern EO techniques (Split Band and MSBAS InSAR time-series, SO2 flux, TRMM) to study and characterize the changes in the monitored parameters that could/should be considered as significant in terms of volcanic and landslide (LS) processes.
The project that will start on 1st December 2014 and last 4 years is funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office and the Luxembourg National Fund for Research in the frame of the "STEREO III" Research Program for Earth Observation. It is closely related to other past and ongoing projects:
GORISK (www.ecgs.lu/gorisk),
GeoRisCA (www.africamuseum.be/georisca),
Vi-X (http://eo.belspo.be/Directory/ProjectDetail.aspx?projID=897),
AfReSlide (www.africamuseum.be/afreslide; http://research.vub.ac.be/afreslide).
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OFFER 1 : POSTDOC 1 (ECGS – LUXEMBURG):
Successful candidate will contribute to “RESIST” and “GeoRisCA” (see links above), two international projects co-led by National museum of natural history and the European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology (NMNH/ECGS) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) and funded by BELSPO and the Luxembourg National Fund for Research (FNR).
He/She will contribute to the processing, analysis and interpretation of the large data base of space borne and ground based data acquired over the Kivu basin and the Virunga volcanoes.
Application of these methods to other targets (such as the ground deformation related to post-mining activity in the Luxembourg, French and German bordering areas) or applications suggested by the candidate can be envisaged.
****REQUIRED SKILL****
The candidate should possess a Master degree in a relevant area and a PhD (<09/2014) in physics, geophysics or a related discipline. Experience in InSAR processing, InSAR time series methods and ground deformation modeling and inversion are mandatory. Additional experience in the processing of GPS and/or seismic data and/or volcanology and tectonic would be an advantage.
The candidate is expected to operate autonomously in an international project team, requiring initiatives, organizational and communication skills, and respect for project deadlines.
We expect the candidate to be fluent in spoken and written, scientific English, and if possible, in French.
**** SALARY****
Salary will be based on an AFR Postdoc Grant from (FNR), topped-up by a contribution of the host institution (NMNH/ECGS). The candidate will hence contribute to a joint application to the AFR Postdoc Grant Scheme (see http://www.fnr.lu/en/AFR-PhD-Postdoc-Grants/Postdoc-Grants). Average success rate of applications to AFR is 50 %; success rate of former ECGS applications to AFR is 4/4.
Estimated annual gross salary (AFR Grant Scheme + host institution contribution, including employer's charges) : 69000 EUR / year
****DURATION****
This is a 2 year position
****DEADLINES****
- Application to ECGS: July 20th 2014
- Joint application (successful candidate + ECGS) to AFR Grant Scheme: September 9th 2014.
- Funding decision: early December 2014 (average success rate of applications 50 %; success rate of former ECGS applications: 4/4)
- Start of the project: early 2015
****APPLICATION AND CONTACT****
Please submit your application in the form of one PDF (including a motivation letter, a detailed CV, copies of certificates, and 3 letters of recommendation). Application must be addressed by e-mail to:François Kervyn
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Department of Earth Sciences
Head of Natural Hazards Unit
Email: francois.kervyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tél: +32 2 769 5433
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