Job offer – NCN SONATA BIS 11 (MSc student scholarships)

Dodano: 10 listopada 2022

Director of the Institute of Geodesy and Cartography (IGiK), Warsaw, Poland, has announced scholarships competition for two MSc students in the National Science Center (NCN; https://ncn.gov.pl/en) research project: NCN SONATA BIS 11 entitled: “Assessment of orthometric/normal height changes and their impact on the realization of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF)”. This project is aimed at establishing a new research team in the Centre of Geodesy and Geodynamics of IGiK to conduct basic research associated with the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). Its overarching scientific objective is to comprehensively investigate temporal variations of geoid/quasigeoid heights, temporal variations of ellipsoidal heights and orthometric/normal height changes at the IHRF sites using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow–On (GRACE–FO) satellite missions data as well as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry), SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging), DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite), tide gauges and hydrology data. Furthermore, the project is aimed at the investigation of the impact of those changes on the realization of the IHRF as well as the unification of national levelling networks of contiguous territories.

The main tasks for the MSc student:

MSc student #1: Analyze GRACE/GRACE-FO and other complementary data to determine the hydrological mass changes that may contribute to orthometric/normal height changes.

MSc student #2: Analyze GNSS data to estimate temporal variations of snow depth, soil moisture or vegetation that may contribute to the change of orthometric/normal heights.

Requirements of the MSc student candidates:

  1. Student of a full-time first or second-cycle degree programme or uniform Master’s studies at a university in Poland;
  2. Solid background in at least one of the following scientific areas: (1) Vertical reference systems/frames, (2) Geodetic reference system/frame, (3) Satellite gravimetry (4) Space geodesy (e.g. GNSS, VLBI, SLR, DORIS), (5) Analysis and modelling of the geodynamic processes, or (6) Temporal mass variations within the Earth system;
  3. Programming skills in a high-level programming language (e.g. Matlab, Python, C or C++);
  4. Good command of English language;
  5. Motivation for further learning and expanding competences.

NCN call for proposals type: SONATA BIS 11

Application deadline: 10 December 2022

Announcement of the competition results: 16 December 2022

Starting date: 1 January 2023

Conditions of employment: A full scholarship for 6 months would be provided to each of two MSc students for implementing scientific tasks associated with the NCN SONATA BIS 11 project, entitled: "Assessment of orthometric/normal height changes and their impact on the realization of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF)". The amount of this scholarship is 2500 PLN/month exempt for tax. We kindly ask the applicant to read the NCN's announcement on exemption from income tax from the NCN research scholarship: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/en/aktualnosci/2021-12-30-stypendia-ncn-podatki

Admission:

The application should contain the following documents/information:

  1. A document confirming the enrolment in a study of a full-time first or second-cycle degree programme or uniform Master’s studies at a university in Poland (in Polish or English);
  2. Copy of the MSc courses accomplished by the applicant and their grading marks (in Polish or English);
  3. Copy of the BSc thesis abstract (in Polish or English);
  4. CV including scientific achievements and practical experience as well as contact information of two references (in English);
  5. Letter of intent (in English);

Application documents (in pdf format) should be sent electronically to the secretariat of IGiK (e-mail address: igik@igik.edu.pl) and to the principle investigator of the project Prof. Walyeldeen Godah (e-mail address: walyeldeen.godah@igik.edu.pl).

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview on 13-14 December, 2022. The applications will be assessed in accordance with the criteria included in Regulations for awarding NCN scholarships for NCN-funded research projects (Annex to Resolution No 25/2019 of the NCN Council; https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2019/uchwala25_2019-zal1_ang.pdf.)

Please include the following statement in your application: “In accordance with the personal data protection act from 29th August 1997, I hereby agree to process and to store my personal data by the Institution for recruitment purposes”.

For further information concerning the project, and application procedure, applicants are strongly advised to contact the principle investigator of the project Prof. Walyeldeen Godah (e-mail address: walyeldeen.godah@igik.edu.pl).

More about the project is in the following link: https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/listy-rankingowe/2021-06-15poaz12/streszczenia/531440-en.pdf