Published: 08.04.2019, updated: 23.05.2019

Your PhD project

You will develop a permanently installed, fully automated, and remote-controllable mini-rhizotron (MR) camera system with UHD resolution to facilitate root phenological studies in situ. This system will be tested and validated at the ForHot field site under harsh arctic conditions. You will also identify wavebands beyond the visible spectrum allowing for enhanced segmentation (i.e. separation between roots and soil) and species-specific differentiation of three exemplary arctic root systems via image analyses - using a unique hyper-spectral camera set-up for rhizoboxes. A data processing pipeline, involving machine learning tools, will be developed for automatic analysis of the gathered RGB and/or hyperspectral root signatures. Finally, strategies how to integrate multi-spectral imaging capacities in future generations of MR camera systems will be developed.

The PhD will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boris Rewald, a co-founder of VSI, and co-supervised by PD Dr. Gernot Bodner at BOKU, and Dr. Ivika Ostonen at UTARTU. The BOKU researchers combine their expertise in (hyperspectral) imaging, plant physiology, soil science, forestry and agronomy, and root phenotyping with UTARTUs expertise in root and soil ecology to facilitate the much-needed technological advancement in root research.

Secondments

You will embark on secondments to other FutureArctic partners (UTARTU, BOKU, IMEC, LBHI). At UTARTU you will be trained in recognizing roots and mycelia in MR images, and analysis of root phenology. At BOKU you will set-up rhizobox experiments to determine hyperspectral properties of key arctic plants and train models towards species-specific analyses of root growth dynamics – assisted by the machine-learning experts at IMEC (Steven Latré). At LBHI (Bjarni D. Sigurdsson) you will set-up field tests and learn about specific aspects of Arctic ecosystems.

Benefits of working in an ITN

• You will be working within our international group of > 25 researchers
• You will get in contact with the other members of this international consortium and will benefit from the joint training platform to develop skills necessary for developing an “ecosystem-of-things”

Benefits of working at VSI

Vienna Scientific Instruments GmbH (VSI) is a young and dynamic engineering startup focusing on scientific instrumentation. Our offices and workshops are located in Alland – just outside the city borders of amazing Vienna. VSI has currently seven full-time employees with a core expertise in mechatronics, process automation and rapid prototyping, and a fully equipped workshop. Become part of our thriving R&D&I team!

• Applicants must hold a MSc or equivalent in the field of computational image analysis, data science, bioinformatics or a related discipline incl. biology
• Applicants must have a good understanding of mechatronics and programming and foster an interest in roots and ecosystem processes. Skills in Matlab, R, CAD software and a reasonable proficiency in C/C++/Python/... are an asset
• Applicants can be of any nationality
• Applicants must have an ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English to a level that is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training
• Applicants must be eligible to enrol on a PhD programme at BOKU (preferable from 1. October 2019)

In addition:

• H2020 MSCA Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Austria for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date (1. Sept. 2019). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account
• H2020 MSCA eligibility criteria: Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) must, at the date of recruitment by VSI, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged)

Vienna Scientific Instruments seeks to increase the number of its female staff members. Therefore qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference unless reasons specific to an individual male candidate tilt the balance in his favour.

• You will be employed full time for 36 months, starting in September 2019
• A competitive salary plus allowances
• Additional funding is available for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events
• You will benefit from the designed training programme offered by the host organisation and the consortium
• You will participate in international secondments to other organisations within the FutureArctic network and in outreach activities targeted at a wide audience

Please, find additional information in the Information package for Marie Curie fellows.

Please, find information on all 15 ESR positions within the ITN at the Euraxcess platform and the FutureArctic homepage.

There are currently no other specific job openings. However, we welcome initiative applications for employment for the following fields

• Software developer (HTL, BSc, MSc or equivalent)
• Mechatronic engineer (HTL, BSc, MSc or equivalent)
• Electronic engineer (HTL, BSc, MSc or equivalent)
• Locksmith / Metalworker (professional training)

Please send your initiative application (motivation letter & CV) in German or English to office@vienna-scientific.com