Ehsan Forootan

PhD position in Semantic GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R) for Scalable Real-Time Earth Observation at Aalborg University , Denmark. This PhD is part of the MASSIV-EO project, which focuses on real-time Earth observation from dense nanosatellite/CubeSat constellations and the development of innovative GNSS-based sensing methods and AI models to detect Earth surface processes. The project is hosted in the Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN) within the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, with collaboration across departments including Electronic Systems . The research topic explores GNSS-R as a low-cost, low-power bistatic remote sensing technique optimized for nanosatellite platforms. The work involves instrument design, signal processing, calibration, error characterization, constellation-level data integration, and assessing whether GNSS-R on CubeSats can deliver scientifically meaningful geophysical measurements at useful temporal and spatial resolutions. Suitable backgrounds include Geodesy, Remote Sensing, Civil Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering , or a comparable discipline. The ideal candidate should have strong numerical modelling and programming skills, and experience in at least two of the following: GNSS signal processing, AI and data science, and satellite geodetic/Earth Observation data processing. Good English skills are required. The position is a PhD stipend , normally for 3 years , with standard Danish PhD employment conditions. The stipend is open for appointment from 1 October 2026 or soon thereafter. The workplace will be in Aalborg or Copenhagen . Deadline: 15 May 2026. How to apply: Submit a motivation letter, project plan, CV with outputs and references, MSc diploma or expected-completion statement, master thesis, and exam list through Aalborg University’s online recruitment system.

Aalborg University’s Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN), invites applications for a fully funded PhD stipend within the general study programme Planning and Development. The position is part of the DREAM project, funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, focusing on drought resilience through satellite-integrated early warning and monitoring systems for large-scale river basins. The PhD project aims to develop a novel model-based drought index for Denmark, integrating atmospheric, hydrological, and agricultural dryness. The candidate will work on innovative approaches to drought identification, including calibration and groundwater coupling to the VIC model. The project involves simultaneous calibration and assimilation of satellite and in-situ observations (streamflow, soil moisture, groundwater) into the model, enabling short-to-seasonal predictions of water dynamics under various dryness scenarios. Applicants should have an MSc degree (or equivalent) in Geodesy, Hydrology, Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Physics, Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a related field. Essential skills include numerical modeling and programming. Experience in hydrological/land surface models, calibration/data assimilation, satellite geodetic/Earth Observation data processing, and meteorological/hydrological data analysis is desirable. Strong English communication skills are required. The position offers an international, interdisciplinary working environment, access to in-house modeling and HPC infrastructure, participation in project meetings and international conferences, and a research stay abroad. Flexible working hours and support for work-life balance are provided. The PhD stipend is for 3 years, with salary and terms governed by the AC collective agreement. Candidates must enroll as PhD students at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design and complete PhD courses (30 ECTS), teaching/knowledge dissemination, and an external research stay (preferably 3-6 months). To apply, submit a motivation letter, project plan, CV with scientific outputs and references, MSc diploma or supervisor’s statement, master thesis, and exam list with ECTS and grades in PDF format. Shortlisting will be applied, and all applicants will be informed of their status. For scientific queries, contact Professor Ehsan Forootan ([email protected]). Aalborg University values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. The main campus is in Aalborg, with additional campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen. The university is committed to real-world-oriented education and world-class research through collaboration with public and private partners.

The Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN) at the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University, invites applications for a PhD stipend within the general study programme Planning and Development. The position is part of the MASSIV-EO research project, which focuses on satellite constellations for massive Earth observation. The project aims to develop architectures and methods for real-time delivery of Earth Observation (EO) data from dense nanosatellite/CubeSat constellations, and to advance GNSS-based sensing methods and AI models for detecting a variety of Earth surface processes. The PhD topic centers on GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS R) as a novel, low-cost, low-power remote sensing technique optimized for nanosatellite platforms. GNSS R utilizes signals from global navigation satellite systems to retrieve geophysical parameters, enabling high-density, high-resolution Earth observation. The research will investigate whether GNSS R, when deployed on CubeSat platforms, can produce reliable and operationally useful geophysical measurements at superior temporal and spatial resolutions, while adhering to the strict mass, power, and processing constraints of nanosatellites. The project will require new methodologies for instrument design, signal processing, calibration, error characterization, and constellation-level data integration. The ideal candidate will have an MSc degree in Geodesy, Remote Sensing, Civil Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a related discipline, equivalent to the Danish MSc (2 years). Essential skills include numerical modelling and programming, with desirable experience in GNSS signal processing, AI and data science, and satellite geodetic or EO data processing. Strong collaborative skills and proficiency in English (oral and written) are required. The PhD stipend is for 3 years, with enrollment at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design. The position offers an international, interdisciplinary environment, access to high-performance computation infrastructure, participation in project meetings and conferences, and flexible working hours. As part of the PhD, students must complete courses totaling 30 ECTS, gain teaching or knowledge dissemination experience, and undertake an external research stay (preferably 3-6 months) at a foreign institution. Salary and employment terms follow the Danish AC collective agreement. The workplace will be in Aalborg or Copenhagen, and diversity is a core value at Aalborg University. To apply, submit your application online via the university's recruitment system, including a motivation letter, project plan, CV with scientific outputs and references, MSc diploma or supervisor statement, Master thesis, and exam list with ECTS and grades. For scientific questions, contact Professor Ehsan Forootan ([email protected]). For practical issues, contact Lisbeth Diinhoff ([email protected]). The application deadline is 31 July 2026. For more information about the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design, visit www.phd.tech.aau.dk . The application link is here .

PhD stipend at Aalborg University in Monitoring and Predicting Droughts on National Scale . This opening is part of the DREAM project, Drought Resilience through satellite-integrated Early warning And Monitoring , funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) . The project aims to build a satellite-integrated hydro-meteorological drought early warning and monitoring system for large-scale river basins, with a focus on data-driven and model-based drought prediction. The PhD topic focuses on developing a novel model-based drought index combination to capture dryness across the atmosphere, hydrology, and agriculture for Denmark. The student will work with the VIC model , including calibration, groundwater coupling, and assimilation of multiple satellite and in-situ observations such as streamflow, soil moisture, and groundwater. The work also includes short-to-seasonal predictions of water dynamics under different dryness scenarios. Relevant study areas and keywords: hydrology, water resources, geodesy, Earth observation, satellite data processing, meteorological/hydrological data analysis, data assimilation, numerical modelling, applied mathematics, computer science/engineering, and environmental science. Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold an MSc equivalent to a Danish 2-year MSc in Geodesy, Hydrology, Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Physics and Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a comparable discipline. Strong programming and numerical modelling skills are essential. Experience in at least two of the following is desirable: hydrological/land surface models, calibration/data assimilation, satellite geodetic or EO data processing, and meteorological/hydrological data processing. Good English skills are required. Funding and conditions: this is a full-time PhD stipend for 3 years, with salary and employment terms according to Danish collective agreements. The position includes access to HPC infrastructure, modelling and data-assimilation expertise, conference participation, and a research stay abroad. Application deadline: 20 May 2026. How to apply: submit a motivation letter, project plan, CV with scientific outputs and two academic references, MSc diploma or supervisor statement if the degree is not yet completed, master thesis, and exam list with ECTS and grades. Applications must be submitted in PDF format in English unless otherwise indicated.

PhD stipend at Aalborg University in Monitoring and Predicting Droughts on National Scale , linked to the DREAM project (Drought Resilience through satellite-integrated Early warning And Monitoring) funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark . The project focuses on hydrology , earth observation , satellite data processing , data assimilation , calibration , and numerical modelling . The PhD student will develop a novel model-based drought index combination for Denmark, work with the VIC model, integrate satellite and in-situ observations, and explore short-to-seasonal predictions of water dynamics under different dryness scenarios. Ideal applicants should have an MSc in Geodesy, Hydrology, Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Physics and Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a comparable field. Strong programming and modelling skills are essential, and experience in at least two of the following is expected: hydrological or land surface models, calibration or data assimilation, satellite geodetic or EO data processing, and meteorological/hydrological data analysis. Good English skills are required. The position is a 3-year PhD stipend with full-time employment, PhD coursework, teaching/dissemination experience, and an external research stay abroad. Application deadline: 2026-08-07 . Apply via Aalborg University’s recruitment system and include a motivation letter, project plan, CV, MSc diploma or supervisor statement, thesis, and exam list.

PhD opportunity at Aalborg University in monitoring and predicting droughts on a national scale , within the DREAM project: Drought Resilience through satellite-integrated Early warning And Monitoring . The project is hosted by the Department of Sustainability and Planning at Aalborg University and is carried out in collaboration with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) . The PhD topic focuses on drought resilience , hydrological modelling , Earth Observation , satellite-integrated early warning , and data assimilation . The student will develop a novel model-based drought index combination to represent atmospheric, hydrological, and agricultural dryness for Denmark. The work includes calibration and groundwater coupling to the VIC model, assimilation of satellite and in-situ observations, and short-to-seasonal drought prediction under different dryness scenarios. Academic background : suitable applicants should have an MSc in Geodesy, Hydrology, Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Physics and Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a comparable discipline. Strong numerical modelling and programming skills are essential. Experience in at least two of the following areas is expected: hydrological or land surface models, calibration or data assimilation, satellite geodetic or Earth Observation data processing, and meteorological/hydrological data processing and analysis. Good English skills are required. Funding and duration : this is a PhD stipend funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark project DREAM. The position is full time and normally runs for 3 years . The post also includes PhD coursework, teaching/dissemination experience, and an external research stay abroad, preferably 3–6 months. Application deadline : 7 August 2026 . Applicants must submit a motivation letter, project plan, CV with scientific outputs and two academic references, MSc diploma or supervisor statement if the degree is not yet completed, master thesis, and exam list with ECTS and grades. Applications must be submitted through Aalborg University’s recruitment system. Contacts : scientific questions can be directed to Professor Ehsan Forootan ( [email protected] ); application procedure questions can be directed to Lisbeth Diinhoff ( [email protected] ).

PhD stipend opportunity at Aalborg University for research on monitoring and predicting droughts on a national scale . The project is part of the DREAM initiative, which aims to build a satellite-integrated hydro-meteorological drought early warning and monitoring system for large-scale river basins. The PhD topic focuses on developing a novel model-based drought index combination for Denmark, reflecting dryness in the atmosphere, hydrology, and agriculture. The project will work with hydrological modelling , land surface models , calibration , data assimilation , satellite Earth Observation , geodesy , meteorological/hydrological data processing , GIS , and hydroinformatics . A key model mentioned is the VIC model , including calibration, groundwater coupling, and assimilation of streamflow, soil moisture, and groundwater observations. The ideal applicant holds an MSc equivalent to a Danish 2-year master’s degree in Geodesy, Hydrology, Water Resources, Civil Engineering, Physics and Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, or a related field. Strong numerical modelling and programming skills are essential. The call also expects experience in at least two relevant areas among hydrological/land surface modelling, calibration/data assimilation, satellite geodetic or EO data processing, and meteorological/hydrological data analysis. Good English skills are required. Funding is a full-time PhD stipend for 3 years , funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) . The position includes standard PhD employment terms at Aalborg University, access to high-performance computing and modelling infrastructure, participation in international conferences, and a research stay abroad. Deadline: 07.08.2026. The position is open from 01.10.2026 or soon thereafter. Applicants must submit a motivation letter, project plan, CV with scientific outputs and two academic references, MSc diploma or supervisor statement if not yet completed, master thesis, and exam list with ECTS and grades through Aalborg University’s recruitment system.