Research Assistant Position in SAT Lab, SoE, Westlake University

1. Introduction about the Lab

The ‘Sustainability, Agriculture, and Technology’ (https://www.sat-lab.tomcwanger.com)(SAT) lab aims to contribute towards solving one of the main global challenges: to provide food, fibre, and energy sustainably in existing and new agricultural production systems. As an international team striving for excellence, our work is global, we embrace new technologies and methods, and collaborate openly across disciplines ranging from (agro)ecology to artificial intelligence and economics just to name a few. We have and encourage collaborations in China and internationally.

Agriculture and ecology rely on high-throughput technologies to accurately monitor animals and environmental drivers that affect the production of agricultural commodities and our biodiversity capital. We need to be able to measure those to understand how they affect us and ultimately, to optimise our agricultural and natural landscapes.

2. Job Openings for two Research Assistant Positions

First position:Designing automated hardware for sampling animal biodiversity and measuring the environment

Job Responsibilities (hardware development)

1. Develop automated devices that monitor environmental conditions(temperature, humidity, wind, etc.)and animals during day and night.

2. Combine infrared and thermal imagery, full-spectrum acoustic recorders, LED illuminators, and a variety of environmental sensors.

3. Design dedicated boards and components, outsource assembly work to companies, build prototypes, test them in nature.

4. Involved in scientific publications and development of products.

5. Be a pro-active member of the SAT lab.

Job Requirements (hardware development)

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Assistant with

1. Electronics engineering degree or related.

2. English language proficiency.

3. Ideally, experience with machine learning, pattern recognition, tracking systems.

Second position:Designing software systems for managing and analysing biodiversity and environmental data

Job Responsibilities (software development)

1. Develop a software tool for managing photo and audio data of animals and environmental data collected by automated monitoring devices. The tool will be operated through a web app.

2. Starting from an existing tool (https://github.com/nperezg/biosounds), expand its functionality and add photo management and analysis capabilities to the system.

3. Integrate automated detection algorithms for audio and photo data into the platform.

4. Help to manage communities of open-source contributors. The platform will ultimately serve different users such as researchers, consultants, and policy-makers.

5. Involved in scientific publications.

6. Be a pro-active member of the SAT lab.

Job Requirements (software development)

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Assistant with

1. Computer Science or Web engineering degree.

2. PhP, Python, CSS, Java, Twig skills.

3. English language proficiency.

4. Experience with machine-learning, open-source project management.

3. Compensation and Benefits

Competitive Research Assistant Salary. We offer membership in an international research team and modern facilities. The candidates are expected to work well both individually, in a team, and to integrate in an interdisciplinary and international group. These positions will be based in the SAT Lab, Westlake University, China.

4. How to apply

Applications will be considered until positions are filled. English applications should include a cover letter, a short summary of research interests, CV, complete certificates, and the names (with email addresses) of two potential referees. Interviews of invited candidates will be held in as soon as possible. Please send your materials to Prof. Thomas Cherico Wanger (tomcwanger@westlake.edu.cn) and Dr. Kevin F.A. Darras(kdarras@westlake.edu.cn)

一、实验室介绍

“可持续农业科学与技术”实验室(https://www.sat-lab.tomcwanger.com)旨在通过现有和新型农业生产系统为不断增长的人口提供食物、能源和纤维，以实现联合国可持续发展的目标。作为一个追求卓越的国际团队，我们采用新技术新方法，并基于创新思维开展多学科合作，从（农业）生态学、人工智能到经济学等等。我们鼓励在中国以及国际上的各种合作，目前正在推进一个全球项目网络，以评估不同作物生产系统（如可可和水稻）对环境和人类的景观层面影响。除了新的自动生态系统方法，特别像是生物多样性监测外，我们还对气候变化下农业管理对人类健康和生态系统服务的影响感兴趣，希望利用传感器、可再生能源技术和人工智能来解决粮食与能源之间的关系。

二、招聘岗位

科研助理，2名（生态系统自动监测的硬件和软件开发）

岗位一：负责设计用于生物多样性取样和测量环境的自动化硬件。

工作职责(硬件开发)：

1. 开发自动装置用以监测特定的环境条件（温度、湿度、风等）和动物在白天和夜间的情况；

2. 结合红外线和热影像、全谱声波记录仪、LED照明器和各种环境传感器；

3. 设计专用板卡和元器件，制作样机，将组装工作分配给外包公司，并在自然界进行测试；

4. 参与科学出版物和产品的开发；

5. 成为SAT实验室的积极成员。

应聘条件（硬件开发）：

我们正在寻找一位积极进取的科研助理，他应具备以下条件：

1. 电子工程专业或相关专业，本科及以上；

2. 良好的英语语言能力；

3. 有机器学习、模式识别、跟踪系统经验的优先考虑。

岗位二：负责设计用于管理和分析生物多样性和环境数据的软件系统。

工作职责（软件开发）

1. 开发一个软件工具，用于管理动物的照片及音频数据，管理自动监测装置收集到的环境数据，该工具将通过一个网络应用程序进行操作；

2. 从现有的工具（https://github.com/nperezg/biosounds）开始，扩展其功能，并在系统中增加照片管理和分析功能；

3. 将音频和照片数据的自动检测算法整合到平台中；

4. 协助管理开源贡献者的社区。该平台最终将服务于不同的用户，如研究人员、顾问和政策制定者；

5. 参与科学出版物。

应聘条件（软件开发）：

我们正在寻找一位积极进取的科研助理（软件开发），他应具备以下条件：

1. 计算机科学或网络工程学位，本科及以上；

2. 掌握PhP、Python、CSS、Java、Twig技能；

3. 良好的英语语言能力，工作积极认真；

4. 具有机器学习、开源项目管理的经验优先。

三、薪酬待遇

根据西湖大学相关规定以及申请人工作能力，实验室将提供在国内外具有竞争力的薪酬待遇以及科研条件，享受五险一金及西湖大学的相关福利。具体待遇面议。

候选人需要有良好的个人工作能力，富有团队精神，并愿意积极融入一个跨学科的国际团队。工作地点为：中国杭州西湖大学，SAT实验室。

四、应聘方式

报名时间：招满即止，有意应聘者请从速投递应聘材料。

申请材料：请将个人中英文简历、一封求职信、一份研究兴趣的简短摘要、各类证书，以及两位潜在的推荐人姓名（包括电子邮件地址）发送至Thomas Cherico Wanger教授（tomcwanger@westlake.edu.cn）及Kevin F.A. Darras博士（kdarras@westlake.edu.cn）邮箱，邮件标题及附件简历命名方式为：应聘岗位-本人姓名-高校人才网（请尽可能提供英文申请材料）；

招聘流程：经初步评审，我们将尽快通过电话或邮件向符合应聘条件的应聘者发出面试通知。