Postdoctoral Fellow: AI & Computer Vision for Urban Ecology

Location: Senseable City Amsterdam (AMS Institute), Marineterrein in Amsterdam, NL
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Position Type: Full-Time

The Opportunity

The MIT Senseable City Lab is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow (or Research Fellow) to bridge the gap between Ecology and Artificial Intelligence. Based in the heart of Amsterdam, you will join a multidisciplinary team dedicated to capturing and processing real-time data about biodiversity from urban environments.

This isn’t just a desk job; you will be at the forefront of designing "living lab" experiments, using computer vision to decode the complexities of biodiversity and ecological change in one of the world's greenest cities: Amsterdam.

Senseable City Amsterdam – Postdoctoral Fellow

The Senseable City Lab (SCL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and AMS Institute have worked together for over 10 years. The joint research engages in cutting-edge research that explores the integration of sensors, networks, and data analytics in urban environments. The Lab focuses on how the convergence of these technologies can improve life in cities and uncover new avenues to understand urban dynamics. We are now recruiting for a post-doctoral researcher at our joint MIT-AMS Institute research lab: The Senseable City Amsterdam (SCA).

Senseable City Lab

Key Responsibilities

Pioneer AI Applications: Develop and deploy advanced computer vision models to identify species and monitor biodiversity metrics in real-time.
Experimental Leadership: Design and lead field studies in urban and natural ecosystems, transforming raw visual data into ecological insights.
Global Collaboration: Work closely with MIT’s Cambridge-based lab, AMS Institute in Amsterdam, and a network of industrial and academic partners.
Research Excellence: Lead the design of new research initiatives, present at international conferences, and publish in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
Strategic Growth: Contribute to the initiation of new projects at the intersection of AI and environmental science.

Who You Are

Academic Background: You hold a Ph.D. in Ecology, Urban Ecosystems, Bioacoustics & Visual AI for Biodiversity, Computational Ecology, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Data Science, or a related field.
You have a proven track record of applying ecological concepts to cities, ideally with hands-on experience in sensing systems, data science, and machine learning in ecology.
Scientifically Rigorous: You possess a strong background in experimental ecological design and statistical analysis.
Excellent Communicator: You have excellent English skills and the ability to translate complex technical findings for multidisciplinary audiences. Dutch is not a requirement.

What We Offer

The MIT Experience: A rare opportunity to be an MIT research fellow while living and working in Amsterdam.
Standardized Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience and follows MIT’s Postdoctoral Fellowship policies
Innovative Environment: Based at AMS Institute (Marineterrein Amsterdam), you will be part of a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, startups, and city officials.
Global Impact: Your work will contribute to the Senseable City Lab’s mission of making cities more sustainable and livable through data-driven design.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a Cover Letter detailing their research interests and experience related to each position and a full CV/resume through our application link: https://podio.com/webforms/20990155/1447915

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Additional Information: International candidates are encouraged to apply. Work authorization in the Netherlands is required; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.