CIRAD is Hiring a Research Scientist Position in Remote Sensing for Agricultural Transitions in the Global South: Apply by 16 August 2026 @Unknown

The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) has announced a new permanent position for a Research Scientist in Remote Sensing focused on monitoring agricultural transitions in countries of the Global South.

The opportunity is aimed at researchers with expertise in satellite imagery, Earth observation, agronomy, geography, and data science who are interested in applying innovative technologies to support sustainable agricultural development and climate-resilient food systems.

The successful candidate will join CIRAD’s TETIS Joint Research Unit and contribute to research that generates scientific knowledge and practical tools for understanding changes in rural landscapes, farming systems, and agricultural sustainability.

Why Is CIRAD Hiring a Remote Sensing Researcher?

Agricultural systems across the Global South are undergoing rapid changes due to climate pressures, environmental challenges, socioeconomic transformations, and evolving land-use demands.

CIRAD’s Earth Observation and Spatio-Temporal Indicators Group (GOST) is working to develop advanced approaches using multisensor Earth observation data to characterize land surfaces and create indicators that can support researchers, policymakers, and local stakeholders.

The appointed researcher will help develop methods to monitor agricultural transitions, including agroecological transformations, food system sustainability, climate change impacts, and land-use planning.

Key Responsibilities of the Research Scientist

The selected candidate will contribute to interdisciplinary research activities involving remote sensing, agricultural sciences, geography, economics, and data analysis.

Main responsibilities include:

• Developing and extracting spatial, temporal, and landscape indicators from satellite imagery to characterize rural agroecosystems in the Global South.
• Analysing changes in agricultural systems and identifying climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors influencing these transformations.
• Selecting and adapting combinations of remote sensing data, field observations, surveys, and analytical methods to address local research challenges.
• Creating multi-indicator approaches, including composite indicators and evidence-based assessments, to evaluate farming practices and agricultural landscape changes.
• Assessing the accuracy, geographic relevance, and thematic validity of developed indicators.

The researcher will also explore emerging opportunities in remote sensing, including increased availability of satellite imagery, open-source technologies, artificial intelligence applications, and advanced data processing approaches.

Who Can Apply?

CIRAD is seeking candidates with strong academic and professional experience in remote sensing applied to agricultural and socio-environmental systems.

Applicants should have:

• A Ph.D. in space-based remote sensing applied to socio-agroecosystems.
• Expertise in agronomy, rural economics, geography, or related fields connected to agricultural development in the Global South.
• Experience processing and analysing satellite image time series.
• Knowledge of remote sensing software and programming tools, including QGIS, OTB, R, Python, and relevant data science libraries.
• Familiarity with open-source research practices, Git repositories, and geospatial data standards such as STAC, Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, and cloud-native formats.
• Experience coordinating or contributing to research projects.
• At least four years of professional experience after completing a Ph.D.
• Strong scientific English communication skills.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams and international research networks.

Experience collaborating with field partners and initiatives such as the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) will be considered valuable.

Position Details

Job Title: Remote Sensing Researcher for Monitoring Agricultural Transitions in the Global South
Organisation: CIRAD – French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development
Contract Type: Permanent Contract
Start Date: September 1, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France
Professional Category: Managerial Position
Salary: Starting from approximately €37,000 annually, depending on experience

The role may involve frequent travel within France and internationally, as well as field-related activities in tropical, humid, or subtropical environments.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline.

Application Deadline: August 16, 2026

Applicants should include contact details for previous supervisors or managers who may be contacted during the recruitment process.

Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Science and Technology

CIRAD works with international partners to generate and share scientific knowledge that supports agricultural development and innovation, particularly in tropical and Mediterranean regions.

Through this research position, the organisation aims to strengthen the use of Earth observation technologies, artificial intelligence, and open-source approaches to better understand agricultural transitions and support sustainable food systems worldwide.

Researchers passionate about remote sensing, climate resilience, and global agricultural development are encouraged to explore this opportunity and apply before the closing date.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the  organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official  organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

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