Dear Colleagues, The Antonelli Lab at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, is looking for a postdoctoral fellow to develop RL-based techniques for optimizing biodiversity conservation. For more information, see:
https://careers.kew.org/vacancy/postdoctoral-researcher-spatial-tools-for-biological-conservation-444248.html This project will build upon the approach described in a recent preprint, which combines machine learning techniques (neural networks and reinforcement learning) with simulations ( https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.13.439752v1). The postdoctoral project’s goal is to further test and refine the analytical platform developed, moving from simulated to real-world data obtained from already available or novel field-collected sources; while successfully increasing the complexity of the platform in its representation of the economic, social and biological parameters of real systems. The project may concentrate on methods development, empirical applications, or a combination of these – depending on the candidate’s skills and interests, and where the potential for scientific or environmental impact is deemed highest. The objective of the platform is to *help policymakers and landowners to make the most effective decisions* about which areas should be prioritised for protection or other conservation actions, such as restoration, or increased efficiency in already protected areas. Given the complexity of the task, the methodology uses the power of *Artificial Intelligence* and is able to integrate data gathered using novel monitoring technologies, such as *remote sensing, environmental DNA* and *citizen science* observations using mobile apps. The platform optimises decisions under a limited budget, considering factors such as land price, complementarity, and shape and size of protected areas. It also directly incorporates the impact of *humans and climate change* over time on species. The successful candidate will be an active member of a high-profile, multi-disciplinary team led by the Director of Science, and working in the Conservation Assessment and Analysis team, which forms part of the Ecosystem Stewardship Scientific Priority. There will also be strong international collaboration. While much of the work can be done remotely and virtually, international travel may be necessary for fieldwork, conferences etc. Applications close on May 27th. https://careers.kew.org/vacancy/postdoctoral-researcher-spatial-tools-for-biological-conservation-444248.html Best wishes, Jakub Truszkowski Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre University of Gothenburg
_______________________________________________ uai mailing list [email protected] https://it.engineering.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/uai
