Open positions in the Qiu lab

We currently have funding for 1 postdoc associate and 1-2 Ph.D. students. Please see details in the following sections!

The Qiu lab at the Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE) at Duke University is always seeking motivated postdoc associates, graduate students, visiting scholars, and undergraduate students. We work on a extensive range of projects that span various scales from individuals to the entire globe, and different ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and urban environments. We used ecological monitoring network (e.g., NEON, MASTIF, FIA, CFI, and build new plots), drone and airborne data (i.e., LiDAR, hyperspectral, multispectral), advanced terrestrial laser scanning (i.e., Riegl VZ400i), and satellite remote sensing (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel-2, ECOSTRESS, GEDI, MODIS, Planet-scope) to answer our research questions. Prospective students can visit our research projects and lab members for details. Members in the Qiu lab will have access to individual workstations, as well as designated allocations at computing clusters (A100 GPU and hundreds of CPUs). Duke University is renowned for its prestigious academic standing, consistently ranked among the top 10 universities. Its commitment to advancing ecological research is supported by extensive resources, including the Duke Marine Lab, a world-class coastal research facility, and the 7,000-acre Duke Forest, a living laboratory for studying biodiversity, climate change, and ecosystem dynamics.

Postdoctoral Associate Position:
- Recruiting for NASA-funded postdoc in 2024: we currently have a NASA-funded project that aims to synthesize multiple-source remote sensing data to understand forest dynamics. We are looking for a postdoc with experience in a wide range of remote sensors (e.g., LiDAR, Hyperspectral, PlanetScope, Sentinel-2, Landsat, and drones). The candidate will develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning technique to quantify changes in forest structure and species composition. As such, we seek applicants with strong quantitative backgrounds in both remote sensing and ecological modeling. The selected candidate will contribute to data analysis and visualization, and manuscript preparation. Successful candidate is required to have and provide evidence of a Ph.D. in ecology, geography, environmental science, earth system science, forestry, or a closely related relevant area prior to the effective date of hire. Applicants should have strong programming skills (e.g., R or Python) in processing and visualizing geospatial and ecological big data. Experiences with data-model synthesis in the supercomputing environment are highly preferred. A strong record of publishing research in peer-reviewed journals is desired. Proficiency in spoken/written English is mandatory. To apply, please send (1) cover letter describing your research experience/interests, (2) a most recent CV, (3) names and contact information for three references. All of the above should be compiled into a single pdf document and sent to tong.qiu@duke.edu. Please use the subject line: application for postdoc. The starting salary is $62,000 (plus benefits and annual travel fund).
- Other opportunities: If you are interested in working on other projects, please email Dr. Tong Qiu a copy of your resume or CV and an outline of your background and interests. We will be in touch if we have a suitable project for you. Below are some additional funding resources if you want to develop your own research projects:
  - NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship: Please send me your research outline and we can schedule a meeting to develop a proposal. I am committed to providing guidance, support, and constructive feedback to help your develop a strong application.
  - NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship: Some research opportunities are limited to U.S. citizens only, so please pay attention to the citizenship requirements. Yoiu can select by NASA centers and research areas (e.g., Biological Sciences, Earth Science).
  - Marie Curie International Research Fellowships: MSCA are part of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program. These fellowships are designed to support researchers at all stages of their careers. I can provide necessary facilities (computing, field sites) to support your research projects. Please contact me with your research outline.
  - Postdoc Fellowship in some universities and research institutes: There are some university and research insitutes (e.g., Fudan University) that provide prestigious postdoc fellowships. Please contact me if you plan to choose our lab as your host institute.

Ph.D. Student Positions (recruiting for fall 2025):
- We are looking for 1-2 talented and highly motivated Ph.D. students who are expected to work on the following broad themes:
  - Global Change Biology: Understanding and predicting effects of global change on biodiversity shifts across different spatial and temporal scales through the synthesis of remotely sensed data, ecological monitoring network, and advanced machine learning and statistical models
  - Remote sensing of Ecology: Integrating field sampling, ecological models, remote sensing, and earth system models to advance the understanding of carbon, energy, and water exchanges between land and atmosphere in forest, dry land, and urban environment
  - Forest regeneration and ecosystem functions: Quantifying the regeneration potential of global forests and their roles in ecosystem functions and services (particularly forest food webs)
  - Environmental Data Science: the application of Bayesian hierarchical models, earth system models, ecological models in fusing multiple source remote sensing (particularly LiDAR and Hyperspectral data) in understanding terrestrial ecosystem functions
- Quantifications: Strong quantitative and data science skills are required. Bachelor’s or master’s degree in remote sensing, ecology, engineering, environmental science, geoscience, or earth science is highly preferred. Proficiency in oral/written English is desired. Selecting an Ph.D. adviser that suits your interests is key to the success of your graduate school. Prospective students are thus encouraged to contact Dr. Tong Qiu (tong.qiu@duke.edu) to discuss potential projects before their applications. Please include your CV that describes your interests and qualifications that are relevant to the lab’s research theme. Please use the subject line: application for PhD. Qualified applications will be reviewed upon receiving. The starting salary is $40,000 for Ph.D. student (plus benefits and tuition waiver)
- To apply: Application instructions for the Environment Ph.D. can be found at https://nicholas.duke.edu/academics/doctoral-programs/environment-env. The due date is Dec 3rd (to be considered for departmental assistantship and university fellowships). For University Program in Ecology (UPE), instructions can be found at https://nicholas.duke.edu/academics/doctoral-programs/university-program-ecology-upe. The due date is December 2nd. Apply portal and minimum requirements for both programs can be found at https://gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/application-instructions/. International students should also meet the minimum requirement of TOEFL or IELTS.

Visiting Students:
- We also welcome visiting students who may wish to visit Duke University for extended periods of time (one year or two years) for conducting research in the Qiu lab, collborating with lab members on different projects. We will provide office space, computing facilities, field supply, and many other resources. Please email tong.qiu@duke.edu a copy of your resume or CV and your research outline.

Undergraduate Researchers:
- We also welcome undergraduate students interested in possible research projects. Undergraduate students will work as paid research assistants/technicians. If you are interested in conducting field work, collecting data with terrestrial laser scanner (Riegl 400i), using geospatial software and/or coding, please email tong.qiu@duke.edu a copy of your resume or CV. Below are some additional funding resources:
  - Deans' Summer Research fellowships: The Academic Deans of Trinity College will award the Deans' Summer Fellowships in support of undergraduate research and inquiry in the arts and sciences.
  - Bass Connection: The Qiu lab will post opening positions on this page if there are opportunities through the bass connection.
  - Muser: The application for fall 2024 has passed (we will post project at Muser in the next semesters as well). We also accept undergraduate through federal/duke work-study programs.
  - Extramural Grant in the lab: We will also hire undergraduate researcher (normally full time in the summer) to provide funding to start, continue, or finish an independent project. Please contact Dr. Tong Qiu if you are interested in a senior thesis.