Tracking Illicit Economies via Satellite Imagery GRAD RA (AY 25-26 C91355)
Middlebury College · Monterey, California, US
Dr. Katharine Petrich is hiring two students to work remotely/on-campus to support a continuing research project leveraging satellite imagery, machine learni...
Job description
Dr. Katharine Petrich is hiring two students to work remotely/on-campus to support a continuing research project leveraging satellite imagery, machine learning models, and geospatial data to monitor and mitigate illicit activities in Colombia and Venezuela. This includes analyzing illegal mining, deforestation, drug trafficking, and coca cultivation in conflict-prone border regions. This is a California MIIS student position compensated at the Level C rate paying $17.95 per hour. Core Responsibilities: - Assemble data for several relevant databases using media reports, government documents, nonprofit reports, social media accounts, etc in Spanish and English - Identify patterns in territorial disputes, organized crime activities, and environmental degradation in the zone of interest - Conduct image/geospatial annotation - Write literature reviews - Examine the underlying socioeconomic and governance challenges which act as drivers - Write and present findings to internal/external audiences Requirements: - Research methods experience - Interest in satellite imagery/geospatial data - Experience working in remote-first teams - Social media/open source intelligence experie...