Postdoc position - Advancing in-situ data collection for land cover change using immersive technologies

Your job

Are you curious about how immersive technologies like virtual reality can revolutionize environmental research? Do you want to transform how we interpret and collect in-situ data to  improve map-making for climate action and conservation efforts? Are you excited to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technologies, user experience, and real-world geospatial challenges?

Accurate and timely land cover information underpins essential decision-making in areas such as urban planning, biodiversity conservation, agriculture, and climate change mitigation. While satellite-based remote sensing provides large-scale and consistent observations, in-situ data collection remains a vital component for ground-truthing, model calibration, and validation of automated monitoring. However, conventional methods for in-situ data collection—typically involving manual interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery via 2D web-based interfaces—can be time-consuming and prone to interpretation variability and error.  

Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) are emerging as powerful tools to transform the exploration of complex geospatial data. As a human-centered medium, they enable 360-degree panoramic vision and embodied, intuitive interaction, situating users in context-rich environments that mimic real-world experiences. These features make immersive technologies well-suited for tasks such as comparing spatial locations across time, highlighting changes in various dataset components, and integrating ancillary information layers within a fully three-dimensional (3D-in-3D) workspace.

The postdoctoral researcher will lead this interdisciplinary venture of advancing in-situ data collection for land cover change monitoring using immersive technologies. The research will focus on three primary objectives:  

Assess and understand the sources of interpretation variability in conventional online in-situ data collection platforms using automated (eye) tracking techniques.

Develop a VR workbench that leverages unique and transferable features of immersive technologies to transform the presentation of time series plots, image layers, and tabular data, thereby improving in situ data collection.

Evaluate design principles and solutions from the immersive workbench to enhance web-based annotation platforms, offering scalable solutions.

You will work with Dr. Nandika Tsendbazar and Dr. Jiayan Zhao at the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University. Dr. Jiayan Zhao brings expertise in interface design, data visualization, and user experience evaluation in virtual environments. Dr. Nandika Tsendbazar brings expertise in in-situ data collection via visual interpretation in the domain of land and forest cover change monitoring. The postdoc will act as a bridge between these domains, developing novel solutions grounded in both user-centered design and the domain-specific annotation challenges of in-situ data. The project will contribute to our ongoing initiatives to advance uncertainty analysis of Earth Observation data products, supporting their informative uses for various applications through next-generation geospatial tools.  

Your qualities

We seek a highly motivated candidate with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Remote Sensing, Geo-Information Science, Cognitive Science, or a closely related field. The ideal applicant possesses a strong technical foundation, as demonstrated by both academic qualifications and a track record of peer-reviewed publications. 

Required Skills: 

• Proficiency in programming languages such as C# (Unity), and Python or JavaScript  (for statistical analysis and interface development) 
• Experience in web development and VR application design
• Solid grounding in remote sensing data analysis 
• Strong skills in quantitative statistical analysis 

Preferred/Additional Experience: 

• Previous involvement in human subject data collection 
• Good understanding of user experience (UX) evaluation methods 
• Familiarity with map uncertainty analysis techniques 
• Experience with eye-tracking data analysis 

 

In our international working environment, the language of communication is English. For this position, the required language level is C1.

You will work here
The Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS) is part of the Department of Environmental Sciences. The Department’s fundamental research and education focus on our living environment, encompassing nature, landscape, land use, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, water management, and various competing claims on space.
The mission of our laboratory is to advance spatial competencies for a sustainable world through research and education. The research conducted in the laboratory has a fundamental character, with a clear link to the mission of Wageningen University to provide Science for Impact. Our research agenda is represented in five themes:

Sensing and measuring,

Modelling and visualization,

Integrated land monitoring,

Human-space interactions, and

Empowering agro-environmental communities.

In recent years, the laboratory received excellent reviews in both research and education, and is very international in terms of staff and student composition.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more,  per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the

Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)

(scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. Initially, we offer you a one-year full-time contract, which can be extended to two years upon satisfactory performance. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university " in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Nandika Tsendbazar (nandin.tsendbazar@wur.nl ) and Dr. Jiayan Zhao (Jiayan.zhao@wur.nl ).

For more information about the procedure, please contact Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter edgar.tijhuis@wur.nl  

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 11 August 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 25 August 2025 or 1 September 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.