Competitive examination for admission to two 24-month research grants:
"Statistical models for remote sensing of air quality"
Bergamo University, Department "Ingegneria dell'informazione e metodi 
matematici"
Tutor: Prof. Alessandro Fassò

Deadline for application: November 17, 2010.
Oral exam: November 19, 2010 (skype teleconference allowed)

For more information contact: [log in to unmask]


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*General objectives of the program:*

The objective is to propose a statistical model for the dynamical 
spatio-temporal

mapping of fine particles capable to monitor atmospheric pollution both 
in the

Lombardia region and in Europe. The integration of data from the 
monitoring network

and satellite data will provide a uniform spatial representation which 
will be

independent of policy of investment in monitoring networks of the 
different nations

and regions in Europe.

It will also streamline the existing monitoring networks, with 
significant savings at the

regional level. From a methodological point of view, the innovative 
aspect is the

estimation of a parametric or semi-parametric model estimation by an 
extension of

the EM algorithm.

The several issues, that will be jointly addressed, refer to the missing 
spatial data,

different spatial scales, data defined on different grids and large 
arrays of data.

The project involves collaboration with the Dept. of Statistics, 
Viadrina University,

Frankfurt Oder (DE), il Dept. of Statistics, University of Glasgow (UK), 
il Dept. of

Mathematics, University Jaime I, Castillon (S) e il Dept. of 
Mathematics, Universidade

Técnica de Lisboa (PT).

*Requirements*:

PhD or a degree attained under the laws previously in force for the 
reform of the

autonomy university education or degree in Statistics (Class 92 / S) or 
Mathematics

(Class 45/S) or degree Master equivalent, or equivalent degree 
qualification obtained

abroad.

*Matters on which the candidates' qualifications should address*:

Geostatistics, spatial-temporal models, hierarchical models, estimates 
for complex

models, computational statistics, and compute-intensive.

*Research Program:*

Researchers will contribute to the main team objective, namely the 
construction of

the calibration model space-time satellite data which is divided into 
several stages.

The first is methodological and theoretical, will follow a significant 
part consisting of

encoding and implementation in a distributed computing environment.

COSP: Preparing the module for managing data on different scales. We 
compare the

Bayesian approach and one based on the likelihood.

Heterotopic Coregionalization: Extension of the algorithm of Zhang 
(2007) for

completely heterotopic and autocorrelated data.

Module for missing data: Preparing the module for the management of 
missing data.

This will form an integral part of the model. The missing data are not 
estimated by

interpolation techniques, but they are an output of the same model.

EM Algorithm: The optimization of the likelihood for the valuation of 
maximum

likelihood estimates can be a problem because of the dimensionality of 
the parameter

vector. The EM algorithm is generalized here using an approximation that 
will handle

the case said "completely heterotopic and autocorrelated".

Large covariance matrices: The use of tapering and reverse techniques of 
covariance

matrices of large size will require a theoretical study on the 
asymptotic behavior of

estimators derived from it.

Lombardia Region data: The collection of data on the Lombardia Region, 
includes:

AOT, PM data, weather, altitude, land classification. This phase is 
shortened by

knowledge of the regional sources. Ready georeferenced database for 
space-time

analysis.

Lombardia Region Model: Identification, estimation and validation through

crossvalidation and bootstrap techniques. This phase also includes the 
systematic

quantification of the uncertainty of the model

European data: Collection of data relating to Central or Atlantic. 
Includes: AOT, PM

data, weather, altitude, land classification. Much more expensive than 
RL for the

multiplicity of sources. Ready georeferenced database for space-time 
analysis.

EU model: Identification, estimation and validation through 
crossvalidazione and

bootstrap techniques. This phase also includes the systematic 
quantification of the

uncertainty of the model.

*Selection:*

Selection is based on curriculum and publications assessment and an oral 
exam. The

oral exam will take place on 19 November 2010 at 14:00 at the Department

"Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Metodi Matematici", Via Marconi 5, 
Dalmine BG.

Applicants with domicile outside of the Lombardia Region can be remotely

interviewed via skype with webcam capability. It is the responsibility 
of the applicant

to express his/her intention to do this by contacting by email the 
tutor, Prof.

Alessandro Fassò, [log in to unmask], at least 7 days before the 
interview.

*Subject matter of the interview:*

The interview will focus on the issues of the project.



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