Georgetown University in Qatar

As a University of Applied Learning, SIT works closely with industry in our research pursuits. Our research staff will have the opportunity to be equipped with applied research skill sets that are relevant to industry demands while working on research projects in SIT.  Job Details This Research Engineer will contribute to an international joint project related to policy-making in urban planning and design, focusing on developing a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework and tool. The work will involve integrating results from GeoTOPSIS and/or VectorMCDA in QGIS, enhancing spatial decision support for blue–green infrastructure and ecosystem service evaluation. The Research Engineer will lead the software development and interface programming, working closely with the GIS Research Fellow and interdisciplinary project team members to create a user-friendly, scalable decision-support tool for planners and policymakers. As part of understanding the ecosystem services that are involved in Singapore, the successful candidate will also be expected to perform some field-based data collection during the duration of the project. Key Responsibilities Work closely with the PI, Co-PI, and research team to ensure timely completion of all project deliverables. Implement and enhance GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA algorithms within QGIS using Python or equivalent programming frameworks. Develop a user-friendly interface (QGIS plugin or web-based application) for decision-making and data visualization. Collaborate with the GIS Research Fellow to integrate ecosystem service layers and model outputs. Conduct tool testing, validation, and iterative refinement based on stakeholder feedback. Manage documentation, data pipelines, and version control. Support system deployment on a secure project server and ensure cross-platform interoperability. Assist in project management and support the team in facilitating and organizing workshops, stakeholder sessions, and policy dialogues. Be involved in regular field work data collection and to perform environmental and biodiversity surveys (fish, birds and insects) as part of a research team. To communicate in any relevant internal or external stakeholders to ensure project deliverables are met. Any ad-hoc duties assigned by Supervisor. Job Requirements Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Geomatics, Environmental Informatics, or related fields. Strong programming skills in Python, R, or JavaScript for spatial analysis, interface development, or web applications. Experience in plugin or dashboard development (e.g., PyQGIS, Dash, Streamlit, or web-GIS frameworks). Familiarity with GIS concepts and geospatial data structures; experience with QGIS or ArcGIS will be an advantage. Ability to translate analytical models into intuitive, interactive user interfaces. Good teamwork, documentation, and problem-solving skills. Self-motivated and able to learn new tools and frameworks independently. Additional Note: While prior experience with GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA is not mandatory, it will be considered a strong advantage. On-the-job training will be provided to equip the candidate with necessary methods and integration workflows with ecosystem service models and spatial datasets. Key Competencies Strong programming skills (Python/R/JavaScript) for tool and interface development. Ability to implement or learn GeoTOPSIS/VectorMCDA methods in GIS environments. Good teamwork and communication skills for collaboration with the project team. Strong problem-solving ability, adaptability, and willingness to learn new tools. Good organizational and documentation skills; familiarity with GIS is a plus.

We are seeking to appoint a 30-month Postdoctoral Research Associate in Human Geography to work within the Leverhulme Trust funded project "Plants out of place: entanglements with 'invasive weeds' in the Anthropocene". Plants out of place focuses on challenging conventional thinking about 'invasive weeds' through a transdisciplinary approach incorporating environmental humanities, vegetal cultural geographies, and political ecology. The project aims to advance new ways of thinking about and with weeds through three innovative interventions: a migrant ecology that questions 'invasion' narratives by tracing the histories of how weeds arrive in particular places; a decolonial ecology that challenges Western narratives and explores alternative ways of thinking and living with weeds by learning from traditional knowledges in their places of origin; a multispecies geography that documents entanglements of weeds with other species (e.g. as food, medicine, matter) in the context of accelerating climate change. The project focuses on three invasive non-native plants in the UK and uses archival research, document analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured and go-along interviews in the UK and places of origin. A sensory exhibition of materials assembled during research will function as a creative community engagement to experiment and collaborate with 'invasive weeds'. The successful applicant will work on the project alongside Prof. Cheryl McEwan (Principal Investigator, Department of Geography, Durham University). The primary duties will be to contribute to the development of the project's conceptual approach and to the preparation and planning of the research, undertake fieldwork and archival research in the UK and one of the three overseas locations, co-design and plan the sensory exhibition, and contribute to the writing up and dissemination of the research to multiple academic and non-academic audiences. Applications from those with experience of plant humanities, Critical Plant Studies, political ecology, and vegetal geographies are encouraged.

You will join our team at the Optoelectronics Research Centre and work on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council funded project HyMeta: Hyperuniform Disordered Metasurfaces for Selective Absorbers. Your primary role will be to undertake theoretical and computational research on hyperuniform disordered photonic materials for frequency-selective solar-thermal absorbers based on metal–dielectric–metal resonator platforms. The project develops hyperuniform disordered metasurfaces, a novel class of photonic structures in which structural correlations are precisely controlled to achieve selective absorption of solar radiation and suppression of thermal emission, enabling highly efficient solar-thermal materials. Your work will focus on the development of theoretical and computational models for light–matter interaction in hyperuniform disordered plasmonic structures, including electromagnetic modelling, optimisation of metal–dielectric–metal resonators, and physics-informed machine-learning approaches for inverse design of frequency-selective metasurfaces. You will also work closely with academic collaborators and industrial partners, contributing to joint research activities and scientific publications. The position is fixed term until 31st August 2027, with a nominal start date of 15th May 2026. To be successful you will hold a PhD* degree (either awarded or nearing completion) or equivalent experience in fields related to the project. You should have substantial practical knowledge and experience in the following areas: nanophotonics disordered photonic materials electromagnetism in structured media computational electromagnetic modelling Strong computational skills and experience with electromagnetic modelling methods including FDTD, FEM, and RCWA are essential as well as experience in developing bespoke electromagnetic simulation software and/or using commercial software including COMSOL Multiphysics and Ansys Lumerical using high-performance computing resources. Experience with machine-learning techniques and previous collaboration with experimental groups or industrial partners would also be advantageous. You should be able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team including theoretical, computational, experimental, and industrial researchers. For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Prof Marian Florescu (m.florescu@soton.ac.uk). Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to our ethos at the University of Southampton. We are committed to improving equality across science and engineering and welcome applications from candidates who support an inclusive research culture. We give full consideration to applicants wishing to work flexibly, including part-time, and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University of Southampton is a global top-100 university and home to world-leading photonics research. The Optoelectronics Research Centre provides a highly collaborative environment with access to advanced computational and experimental facilities. Please upload your CV and a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role. *subject to qualifying criteria