Open positions
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Fully-funded for 12-month period, Deadline 7 February 2019):
We are looking for a new Postdoctoral Researcher to join our group as part of a project funded by UK research councils (NERC and ESRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to design improved weather index-based insurance to enhance resilience of smallholder farmers to risks posed by extreme weather and climate change. As part of this project, you will be responsible for developing approaches to use combinations of crop models, satellite remote sensing, and in-situ imagery to help improve field-level crop yield estimation in India. The project is in collaboration with researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute in the United States and HDFC-ERGO General Insurance, one of India’s largest crop insurance providers. Working with these partners, you will assess the ability of alternative datasets and models to improve the reliability of yield monitoring, and evaluate benefits for farmers and insurance providers in India. Further details can be found using the link below. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact me for informal discussions about the position and how to apply (timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk).
We are looking for a new Postdoctoral Researcher to join our group as part of a project funded by UK research councils (NERC and ESRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to design improved weather index-based insurance to enhance resilience of smallholder farmers to risks posed by extreme weather and climate change. As part of this project, you will be responsible for developing approaches to use combinations of crop models, satellite remote sensing, and in-situ imagery to help improve field-level crop yield estimation in India. The project is in collaboration with researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute in the United States and HDFC-ERGO General Insurance, one of India’s largest crop insurance providers. Working with these partners, you will assess the ability of alternative datasets and models to improve the reliability of yield monitoring, and evaluate benefits for farmers and insurance providers in India. Further details can be found using the link below. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact me for informal discussions about the position and how to apply (timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk).
PhD Studentship ('Irrigation poverty traps in the Eastern Gangetic Plains', Fully-funded 3.5 year studentship, Deadline 6 February 2019):
The goal of this PhD project will be to improve understanding about the biophysical and social processes that shape groundwater use in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, and identify opportunities for intensifying sustainably groundwater use to improve food security and reduce rural poverty. The selected student will use a combination of remote sensing, field surveys, and agro-economic modelling approaches to evaluate current approaches and constraints to support groundwater irrigation, and explore the capacity of alternative adaptation strategies (e.g. more efficient pumps, improved irrigation scheduling) to increase the cost-effectiveness of groundwater irrigation and improve farmer livelihoods. Research will focus on case studies in Nepal and/or Eastern India, areas characterised by chronically low agricultural productivity despite apparently abundant groundwater resource potential. The project will involve close collaboration with local partners in Nepal (CIMMYT) and/or India (Central Groundwater Board), who will support fieldwork and with whom the supervisors have longstanding links. Further details can be found using the link below, and interested candidates are encouraged to contact me for informal discussions about the project and associated training provided as part of the studentship (timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk).
The goal of this PhD project will be to improve understanding about the biophysical and social processes that shape groundwater use in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, and identify opportunities for intensifying sustainably groundwater use to improve food security and reduce rural poverty. The selected student will use a combination of remote sensing, field surveys, and agro-economic modelling approaches to evaluate current approaches and constraints to support groundwater irrigation, and explore the capacity of alternative adaptation strategies (e.g. more efficient pumps, improved irrigation scheduling) to increase the cost-effectiveness of groundwater irrigation and improve farmer livelihoods. Research will focus on case studies in Nepal and/or Eastern India, areas characterised by chronically low agricultural productivity despite apparently abundant groundwater resource potential. The project will involve close collaboration with local partners in Nepal (CIMMYT) and/or India (Central Groundwater Board), who will support fieldwork and with whom the supervisors have longstanding links. Further details can be found using the link below, and interested candidates are encouraged to contact me for informal discussions about the project and associated training provided as part of the studentship (timothy.foster@manchester.ac.uk).
Prospective students
I am always keen to hear from talented, enthusiastic students with interests in my broad areas of research (see my research page for examples of recent and ongoing project activities in the group). I especially enjoy working with students who have a strong quantitative background, and a passion for understanding the multi-disciplinary interactions between water use, food production, and the environment in different regions worldwide. If you think that you are a good fit to this description, please get in touch with me to discuss potential project ideas and funding opportunities. In your email, be sure to include a copy of your current CV and a short description of your ideal research project.
