Focus on Flemish Biodiversity: Trends, Biases, and Participatory Data Use

Job title:

Focus on Flemish Biodiversity: Trends, Biases, and Participatory Data Use

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Job description

Offer DescriptionBiodiversity in Flanders is strongly influenced by human activities such as urbanisation, agricultural intensification, and habitat fragmentation. At the same time, the availability of biodiversity data is increasing, particularly through volunteer observations on platforms such as waarnemingen.be. These citizen science initiatives generate large volumes of observations of macro-species such as birds, mammals, plants, fungi, and insects. Despite this wealth of data, many biodiversity patterns remain underexplored, and a systematic overview of long-term trends is lacking.A first challenge in this project is to identify unknown or unexpected biodiversity patterns over the past 10 to 15 years. The diversity and variability in the available datasets make it difficult to distinguish consistent signals from noise. In addition, bias in volunteer registrations forms a second central challenge. Observations are often concentrated around densely populated areas or popular species, leading to spatial and taxonomic distortions in the data pool.The project aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the available biodiversity data in Flanders, focusing on temporal and spatial trends. Using computational analysis methods and visual analytics, patterns will be uncovered that remain invisible in conventional monitoring reports. At the same time, the project will investigate how current volunteer registration practices contribute to bias, and how these practices can be adjusted or supported to obtain a more balanced data representation.You have a Master’s degree Statistics/DataScience, Bioscience Engineering, Visual Design / Data Visualisation or similar. You should have a strong foundation in general data visualisation principles and techniques.You have good programming skills (incl Python and if possible Javascript).You can work independently as well as part of different collaborative cross-domain research teams.You are proficient in oral and written English, possess excellent communication and multi-tasking skills, are team-oriented, proactive and result-driven.A full-time position for one year, extended to 4 years after positive evaluation.A working climate where trust, (international) collaboration, and commitment are essentialAn excellent young, stimulating and supportive international research environmentHigh level scientific training at a top-ranked university; training in academic, thematic and soft skills.If interested, please submit the following:– Cover letter showing your motivation and eligibility for the position– CV showing your past experience and expertise in the research area– Transcript of your Master course grades– Contact information of 2 referees– If possible: example(s) of prior data visualisation workFor more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jan Aerts, tel.: +32 16 32 21 40, mail: .Where to apply WebsiteRequirementsResearch Field Agricultural sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Biological sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Environmental science Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Information science Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Agricultural sciences » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentLanguages ENGLISH Level BasicLanguages DUTCH Level BasicResearch Field Biological sciences » Biodiversity Years of Research Experience NoneAdditional InformationBenefitsA full-time position for one year, extended to 4 years after positive evaluation.A working climate where trust, (international) collaboration, and commitment are essentialAn excellent young, stimulating and supportive international research environmentHigh level scientific training at a top-ranked university; training in academic, thematic and soft skills.Eligibility criteriaYou have a Master’s degree Statistics/DataScience, Bioscience Engineering, Visual Design / Data Visualisation or similar. You should have a strong foundation in general data visualisation principles and techniques.You have good programming skills (incl Python and if possible Javascript).You can work independently as well as part of different collaborative cross-domain research teams.You are proficient in oral and written English, possess excellent communication and multi-tasking skills, are team-oriented, proactive and result-driven.Selection processIf interested, please submit the following:– Cover letter showing your motivation and eligibility for the position– CV showing your past experience and expertise in the research area– Transcript of your Master course grades– Contact information of 2 referees– If possible: example(s) of prior data visualisation workFor more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jan Aerts, tel.: +32 16 32 21 40, mail: .Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute KU LEUVEN Country Belgium City Leuven GeofieldContact CityLeuvenSTATUS: EXPIREDShare this page

Expected salary

Location

Leuven, Vlaams Brabant

Job date

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 06:07:03 GMT

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