PhD in Spatial Statistics for IoT and Remote Sensing of Tree Crop Diseases at Twente, Netherlands

About the Position

This ITC doctorate develops spatial-statistical methods for combining IoT measurements, remote sensing and field observations to understand diseases in tree crops. Cocoa farms in Ghana provide a central application.

Research Position Overview

Help establish a sensor network, handle misaligned and incomplete observations, and compare model transferability with tree crops in Dutch food forests. The work links statistical modelling with environmental field data.

Research Areas

• Spatial and spatiotemporal statistics
• IoT and Earth observation
• Cocoa disease mapping

Funding and Duration

Employment and financial support

Component	Details
Position	PhD employee
Salary	€3,204–€4,051 gross/month, increasing with doctoral year.
Duration	Four years, full-time; qualifier after six to nine months.
Benefits	8% holiday allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus and pension.
Programme / host support	Dutch sector-plan position in ITC’s Environmental Resources department.

Eligibility and Requirements

Academic preparation and skills

Component	Details
Applicant eligibility	Worldwide, subject to the official qualifications and recruitment checks.
Academic preparation	Relevant MSc in geoinformation, Earth observation, spatial statistics, modelling or machine learning.
Research skills	Python or R, multi-source data integration and willingness to collect field data.
Language	Excellent English communication; IELTS is not singled out in the advert.

Application dates

Recruitment dates and location

Component	Details
Recruitment status	Open when verified against the official source
Deadline	Before 31 October 2026; vacancy summary lists 30 October.
Start date	Not specified in the vacancy.
Location	Enschede, Netherlands

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: Before 31 October 2026 - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

How to Apply

• Motivation letter: maximum one page.
• CV with courses/grades, two reference contacts, and an example of scientific writing.

Submit through the application button on the official recruitment page.

Selection and Contact

The faculty states a selection preference for women who meet the profile.

Project contact: Dr Frank Osei or Professor Wieteke Willemen.

About University of Twente

ITC is Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. The host department studies environmental resources through geospatial research.

Official Link

Vacancy details verified against the official source. The employer’s notice governs recruitment terms.

Read the official vacancy and apply

Application guides

• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps

English language requirements

Twente's Graduate School asks for official English test results - IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 are the usual benchmarks - unless you completed both your secondary and tertiary education in English, in which case the test can be waived on that evidence.