Postdoctoral Scholar, UAV and Lidar Data Collection

About the role

The Radiant Center for Remote Sensing, in partnership with the Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics (RSG) Lab in the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering at Northern Arizona University, seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to serve as lead technical researcher on a sponsored research project focused on UAV and terrestrial lidar data collection to create digital twins of forested study sites in northern Arizona. This is one of several concurrent postdoctoral scholar recruitments at Radiant Center, and the successful candidate will collaborate closely with fellow postdoctoral researchers and faculty working simultaneously on related projects.

The position is based in Flagstaff, AZ. The project includes a gradient of forested study sites with increasingly complex vegetation and terrain, which will be imaged and modelled by the postdoctoral research associate using existing UAV and terrestrial lidar scanners in the RSG Lab. Each study site will be imaged with a terrestrial lidar scanner to create digital twins of the understory vegetation and terrain and UAV sensors to model the overstory canopy. The postdoctoral research associate will fuse the two datasets to create a complete point cloud of the forested sites. The postdoctoral research associate will then lead and collaborate with other team members to turn the point cloud into solid models for UAV swarm simulations. The postdoctoral research associate will work collaboratively with a team of postdoctoral researchers and faculty working on various other aspects of the project and will contribute to technical reporting and manuscript preparation.

Responsibilities

• 55% - UAV and Lidar Data Collection and Data Fusion for Full Point Clouds: Image each study area with terrestrial lidar. Image each study area with UAV sensor and create SfM point cloud. Fuse understory and overstory point clouds. Convert point clouds to solid forest models.
• 20% - Identify Five Study Sites with Increasing Vegetation and Terrain Complexity: Lead field site visits, ranking, and suitability analysis for UAV operations and lidar data collection
• 15% - Dissemination, Reporting & Travel: Prepare technical reports and milestone updates for project sponsors. Author and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations. Travel to attend and present research findings at scientific conferences, and travel to field sites to support data collection.
• 5% - Team Supervision & Mentoring: Help mentor graduate students in research methods, technical development, and professional growth.
• 5% - Other: Perform other duties as assigned in support of lab and project needs.

Requirements

This is an on-site position requiring work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility (with or without accommodation); remote work opportunities are rare. The position is subject to funding availability. Driving a vehicle on behalf of the university is anticipated to be a regular part of the role; compliance with Arizona Administrative Code Fleet Safety Policy is required, including submitting driver’s license information for driving record monitoring and completing appropriate training. Due to the project’s funding source, the position is open only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders). The incumbent may handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in accordance with sponsor and university data‑security requirements and must comply with U.S. export control regulations (EAR and ITAR) and any project‑specific technology control plan. The role requires extensive fieldwork, including UAV flights across Flagstaff‑area terrain ranging from desert and canyon country to ponderosa pine, mixed conifer forest, and alpine tundra (spanning close to 8,000 feet of elevation change within about an hour of campus), as well as occasional overnight or multi‑day travel for field campaigns and conference travel. Occasional overtime may be required, particularly around field campaigns and sponsor reporting deadlines.