Eurac - Junior Researcher in Earth Observation Data Science
Winkler Paola
Junior Researcher in Earth Observation Data Science
Eurac - Bozen/Bolzano - Institute for Earth Observation
Short description of the position:
Eurac Research is an interdisciplinary research center located in Bolzano, Italy. At the Institute for Earth Observation (EO) we do research on monitoring environmental parameters and processes with Earth observation and climate data in mountain regions and are hosting a huge amount of Earth observation data for the alpine region.
We are looking for a junior researcher who will support our institute by developing methods and workflows in the field of Earth Observation within the activities of the Advanced Computing group. The group focuses on advancing data science for EO data and processing, including data management following FAIR principles, scalable and cloud-native EO pipelines, semantic enrichment of datasets, and integration of EO with knowledge-based systems. The group also contributes to OGC and IEEE standardization efforts in areas such as data cubes, interoperability, and digital twins.
The junior researcher will work closely with the teams involved in the CRIMA (FESR) and CyclOps (Horizon Europe) projects, both in collaboration with the Center for Climate Change and Transformation at Eurac. These projects aim to develop integrated tools and workflows that support advanced climate risk assessment by combining EO data processing, semantic technologies, and scalable data infrastructures. In this context, semantic technologies refer to the use of structured metadata, ontologies, and knowledge models to describe EO datasets and processing workflows in order to improve data discovery, interoperability, and integration with decision-support and knowledge-based systems.
The role will involve supporting activities such as EO data pipeline development, preparation of datasets for cloud processing, integration of semantic technologies and ontologies with EO workflows, and testing EO processing chains using openEO and related APIs.
This position is suitable for candidates with a background in EO, data science, environmental informatics, or related fields.
If you feel you meet most but not all requirements, we still strongly encourage you to apply.
Tasks:
Develop and maintain EO data processing pipelines
Support the integration of EO datasets with semantic technologies
Contribute to openEO and data cube workflows, including preparing raster collections and testing user-defined processes
Collaborate with project partners and contribute to deliverables
Document code and workflows following FAIR practices
Requirements:
Essential
A master's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field like Earth observation, environmental engineering, geoinformatics or data science
Solid experience with Python for EO and geospatial processing
Familiarity with metadata handling and data pipelines
Interest in or willingness to learn semantic technologies, such as working with structured metadata, ontologies, and knowledge representations for describing EO data and processing workflows
Willingness to work with an open science and open-source approach
Good communication and ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team
Flexibility and motivation to learn new concepts
Very good English (spoken and written)
Relocating to Bolzano
Desired
Experience with cloud or distributed EO processing
Experience with SQL and database management systems
Data analysis and visualization skills for spatial and temporal data
Knowledge of FAIR principles and reproducible workflow design
German and/or Italian skills are highly appreciated
We offer:
1-year contract with possibility of extension, contingent on successful performance during the probationary period
A supportive, international, and interdisciplinary research environment
State-of-the-art technical facilities (soft- and hardware, communication tools)
Professional development opportunities
Flexible working hours
Benefits (e.g. family-friendly benefits, lunch card, health insurance, etc.)
Access to EURAC’s numerous scientific and cultural facilities and events
An attractive working place in a vivid city in the heart of the Alps with endless opportunities for skiing, hiking, climbing
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their online application (CV, cover letter and further relevant documents) OPEN UNTIL FILLED, through the online platform you find at this link:
https://eurac.onboard.org/eo_jrres_eodatascinece_21012026_geospatial
Note: Applications that are fully AI-generated tend to be easy to recognize and often lack the specificity, clarity, and personal insight needed for a strong evaluation. While we do not explicitly discourage the use of AI tools to assist in preparing application materials, applicants should ensure that their submission genuinely reflects their own experience, motivation, and voice.
For further information, please contact Paola Winkler.
Company: Eurac Research
Location: Bozen/Bolzano
Contact person: Paola Winkler
Phone number: +39 0471 055 383
E-mail address: earth.ob...@eurac.edu