PhD Scholarship in Arctic and Maritime Surveillance from Space to Seabed – DTU Space

Do you want to work within the field of satellite imagery and/or distributed acoustic sensing analyzed with artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor fusion with other data sources for the Arctic and maritime surveillance? Then we have openings for a PhD position at Center for Security and Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

We offer you an opportunity to be part of a broader project on Arctic and maritime surveillance, where several departments at DTU Space do research on security aspects. 

The project is funded in part by Danish Defense. 

You will be a part of the young and dynamic Center for Security, working in collaboration with the geodesy and microwave Departments. You will be involved in and contribute to related ongoing projects on AI at DTU Space and DTU Compute. These also involve our partners in Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and other countries.

More about satellite and seabed surveillance
Satellite SAR and MSI imagery can surveil the enormous Arctic and maritime areas with advanced deep neural networks for object detection, classification and identification. Coupled with AIS, RF and other sensor systems, advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance can be built to protect the Kingdom of Denmark. Algorithms are developed to distinguish ships from icebergs and skerries and find oil spills. Advanced face recognition algorithms are developed to identify ships from space.

DAS systems in seabed optical fibers can monitor ships, whales, waves, and seismic activity in real-time. Similar detection, classification and ID methods used for satellite data can be used for DAS. Combined as additional sensor fusion, they provide advanced surveillance from space to seabed.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your main tasks will be

• To design, develop and validate methods for SAR and MSI image analysis, using AI.
• To design, develop and validate procedures to fuse measurements derived using different techniques and sensors such as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, for Arctic and marine surveillance.
• To extend collaboration in Security DTU to departments at DTU Space and other institutes, project partners in industry and government agencies.
• To contribute to the international research community in this field, by presenting relevant results at international conferences and workshops and by publishing in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

Your qualifications must include a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in Engineering or Physics, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Furthermore, we require that you have experience with satellite data analysis using AI. 

Citizenship in NATO or EU countries is preferred.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Henning Heiselberg, DTU Space and Bjørn Sand, DTU Compute.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. The starting date is 15 December 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Lead Project Coordinator at Centre for Security, Anna Boonmeemakova, at [email protected] .

You can read more about the Centre for Security at www.security.dtu.dk. 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 28 October 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD – in English) including an official description of a grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Center for Security DTU supports all security-related research, development and technology at the Technical University of Denmark. The Centre is a point of contact between DTU, industry and government agencies including defence, police, homeland security, etc. The Centre offers high-tech expertise in the form of collaborative research projects, consulting services, and education, including student and PhD projects. We work with the Danish Defence Acquisition & Logistics Organisation and leading companies such as Terma, Weibel Scientific, Lockheed Martin, Thales and Airbus.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.