Postdoc Researcher in Remote Sensing, Computer Vision, and Drone-Based Marine Mammal Monitoring

Greenland's Nature Institute is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for the department of mammals and birds, starting on May 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Greenland Nature Institute in Nuuk is an independent research institution under the Government of Greenland. The institute is responsible for monitoring, research, and scientifically based advice on the sustainable use of living resources as well as the protection of the environment and biodiversity in and around Greenland.

The tasks in the department primarily consist of advising and monitoring huntable species of mammals and birds, both in the sea and on land.

The focus of the position

The focus of the position is to develop and test new monitoring methods for marine mammals around Greenland, with particular emphasis on UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)-based data collection and AI-based analysis of image and video data. The position is part of a larger research collaboration, including activities related to the ARIA-GIANT project (British Antarctic Survey), and is conducted in collaboration with DTU Aqua.

Work tasks

• Planning and execution of UAV-based surveys in Arctic conditions, including field logistics and quality assurance of data collection.
• Development of an end-to-end pipeline for handling drone video (data organization, metadata, annotation, quality check).
• Development, training, and evaluation of computer vision models for the detection and possible tracking/counting of marine mammals, with a particular focus on narwhals.
• Documentation and knowledge sharing across partners (DTU Aqua and BAS).
• Participation in the dissemination of research results in Greenland

The position is desired to be filled by a candidate with a higher education in engineering or natural sciences as well as a Ph.D. degree. The ideal applicant has solid experience in the application of machine learning and image analysis on large, complex datasets, preferably within remote sensing and/or computer vision.

We place special emphasis on:

• Experience with deep learning and computer vision (e.g., object detection, segmentation, classification) as well as robust model evaluation.
• Experience with remote sensing and image data, preferably from Arctic areas, as well as practical understanding of data quality, variation in relationships, and generalization.
• Experience with data pipelines and reproducible workflows (e.g., Python, versioning, documentation).
• Experience from Greenland and/or work in Arctic or sub-Arctic conditions is a significant advantage.
• Ability to work independently and interdisciplinary, and to translate research results into operational methods.

Salary and employment conditions

Salary and employment conditions, including the right to travel for joining and leaving, as well as relocation of personal belongings, in accordance with the agreement/collective agreement in force at the time of commencement between the Government of Greenland and the relevant negotiating organization.

The place of employment is Nuuk. Travel activity should be expected in connection with, for example, fieldwork and meetings.

Commencement on May 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The working hours are 40 hours per week.

Housing

No staff housing is provided for the position. If an applicant already has staff housing through employment in the Self-Government, the right to assigned staff housing is retained. The staff housing is linked to the employment relationship and must be vacated upon termination of the employment relationship.

The position does not come with housing, but the institute can assist with accommodation according to applicable regulations.

Further information

For further information about the position, contact senior researcher Outi Tervo, outi@natur.gl, +299 562837.

Application deadline: March 24, 2026

Submit your application, CV, educational and course certificates, as well as other relevant documents by clicking "Send application."

We do not accept applications via email.