Research Associate Data Science, Environmental Science, Agronomy

8046 Zürich (and working from home) | 90-100%

• Implement existing or develop new solutions to derive agri-environmental information or indicators from satellite data
• Analyse Earth Observation data streams (e.g. satellite, weather, soil) with machine learning approaches
• Link remote sensing and environmental data to analyse the impact of land use on the agricultural landscape
• Publication of scientific and practice-oriented publications (in English and German), reports and maps
• (Co-)development and management of projects, and potentially acquisition of third‑party funding and support and supervision students
• Contribute to developing Agroscope's Agricultural Landscape Intelligence System

• A PhD degree and a background in the fields of agricultural sciences/agronomy, plant physiology or environmental sciences
• A solution-oriented, self‑motivated and self‑organised approach to work and a positive attitude towards support/collaboration with colleagues
• Experience and enjoyment of developing applicable solutions and communicating them to stakeholders, e.g. in scientific reports and presentations
• Strong programming skills in Python and proven, strong skills in machine learning
• Experience with spatial data and remote sensing are a benefit
• Knowledge of two official Swiss languages and spoken and written English

If you have strong expertise in machine learning and are interested in contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources, we look forward to your application.

• Working for Switzerland – We are committed to the successful Swiss model and work for the public good.
• Embracing diversity – Thanks to equal opportunities, we draw on our expertise and contribute different perspectives.
• Staying healthy at work – We support and advise our employees in the area of physical and mental health.

About Agroscope:
Agroscope is the Swiss federal centre of excellence for research in the agriculture and food sector. Its researchers work at a number of sites in Switzerland. Headquartered in Bern‑Liebefeld (as of 2026: Posieux), Agroscope is attached to the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER.

Additional information:
The 'Agroecology and Environment' Research Division investigates the effects of agriculture on the environmental dimensions of climate, air, soil, biodiversity, nutrient cycles and water. Based on the principles of agroecology and using real‑world data, we develop solutions for a sustainable agricultural sector. The interconnectedness of the disciplines is essential here for identifying synergies and trade‑offs.

Questions about the position:
Helge Aasen – Team lead Earth Observation of Agroecosystems. Phone: +41 58 46 51185.