JOB OPENING:
RESEARCH ASSISTANT (Bachelor’s or Master’s Student at NU)
IN GIS/REMOTE SENSING
Organization: Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University
Project: SDGnexus Network Project (in collaboration with the Centre for International Development and Environmental Research [ZEU], Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany)
SDSN Kazakhstan is hiring a motivated Research Assistant to contribute to the SDGnexus Network Project. Building on insights from the project’s first phase (2020–2024), the upcoming phase (2025–2029) will focus on two critical nexus topics – Land Use and Water – while integrating cross-cutting themes such as climate change, biodiversity, governance, and gender.
Key Responsibilities:
·Investigate the interlinkages among farmland abandonment, desertification, soil salinisation, and the desiccation of the Aral Sea.
·Conduct time-series analysis using remote sensing techniques (e.g., land cover mapping, NDVI assessments, salinity maps, and identification of abandoned lands).
·Assist in the processing and interpretation of satellite imagery and spatial datasets.
·Undertake related projects and tasks in land and water research as needed.
Required Qualifications:
·Currently enrolled in or holding a degree in Geography, Environmental Science, Economics, Computer Science, or a related field focusing on land systems or environmental studies.
·Experience in satellite image processing, particularly land use and land cover changes.
·Understanding of data analysis, with a keen interest in land use modelling.
·Beginner to intermediate proficiency in R or Python, GIS software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS).
Position Details
Location: Nazarbayev University, SDSN Kazakhstan, Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP)
Job Type: Research Assistant (Part-Time)
Contract period: June 1 – December 31, 2025, 10 hours per week (about 40 hours per month)
Application Process
Candidates are invited to apply by submitting a single PDF file (in English) via email at sdsn@nu.edu.kz that includes the following documents in the order listed:
·Cover Letter: (maximum 1 page) outlining your motivation to join the SDSN Research Assistant team.
·Curriculum Vitae (CV)
·Academic Certificates: Relevant degrees (undergraduate and graduate).
Application Deadline: 7 May 2025
For inquiries, please contact SDSN at sdsn@nu.edu.kz
Note: The SDGnexus Network is committed to increasing female participation in academia; qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply. Only complete applications will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a virtual or face-to-face interview conducted in English.
About SDSN Kazakhstan
Established in June 2022 at the Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, SDSN Kazakhstan is the national chapter of the global Sustainable Development Solutions Network. SDSN, launched by the United Nations in 2012, leverages scientific and technological expertise to address sustainable development challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDSN Kazakhstan comprises 24 members from leading universities and research centers, all committed to promoting sustainable development solutions, fostering education and research collaborations, and delivering research-based policy recommendations in Kazakфhstan. For more information, visit: www.sdsnkz.nu.edu.kz.
About the SDGnexus Network
The SDGnexus Network consists of partners from Germany, Colombia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan under a common research framework aimed at analyzing synergies and trade-offs among the SDGs. Following a successful first phase from 2020 to 2024, the network will intensify its research on Land Use and Water in the upcoming phase (2025–2029), with a particular focus on nurturing the next generation of scientists. Learn more at: www.sdgnexus.net.