Cranfield University is a British postgraduate and research-based university with two campuses. The main campus is at Cranfield,Bedfordshire, and the second is the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United Kingdom for having an operational airport (Cranfield Airport) next to it. The airport facilities are used by Cranfield University’s own aircraft in the course of aerospace teaching and research.
Applications are invited for a 1-year MSc studentship funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), available from July.
MSc Studentship in SAR Remote Sensing
Cranfield University – SAR Wave Interaction for Natural Targets over Land (SWINTOL)
Location: Cranfield
Placed on: 5th June 2014
Closes on: 20th June 2014
Salary: Not specified
Hours: Full Time
Contract: Contract / Temporary
A fully-funded, 12-month MSc is available from July 2014 to work on the European Space Agency-funded project SAR Wave Interaction for Natural Targets Over Land (SWINTOL), in conjunction with French partners in Toulouse. The goal is the development of a direct electromagnetic scattering model for soil and vegetation (including forestry) suited to high-frequency, high-resolution SAR imagery (including interferometry). Direct electromagnetic models are important for the interpretation of backscatter from land surfaces and assessment of retrieval properties. However, existing models applicable to spaceborne earth observation SAR systems operating at L- and C-band with resolutions of the order of tens of meters, become questionable when considering high-resolution (<1m) X-band through Ka-band systems.
The MSc at Cranfield will be concerned primarily with experimental validation of the new model. It will utilise Cranfield’s internationally-recognised Ground-Based SAR (GB-SAR) microwave measurement facility consisting of indoor laboratories and a portable outdoor system. The team will also have access to ESA’s SAR image archive. The student will work closely with Dr K. Morrison and Dr D. Andre in the indoor and outdoor measurement campaigns, data processing and image interpretation. Other duties will include report production and attendance of team meetings. This is an exciting opportunity to join a European collaboration leading the exploitation of the next-generation of high-frequency SAR platforms.
Entry Requirements
The work would particularly suit candidates with degrees in engineering, physics, mathematics, or physical geography.
Funding
Applicants are eligible for an annual bursary of £13,000-£15,000.
How to apply
A CV and the names and addresses of two referees should be sent to Dr K. Morrison at k.morrison@cranfield.ac.uk.
Read more about Cranfield University
Source: jobs.ac.uk