AGBS - Postdoctoral position in plant-microbe interaction and rhizosphere optimization for enhanced nutrient use and crop productivity

About the position

The increased demand for food and its reliance on agricultural inputs (mainly fertilizers) exert great pressure on agri-food supply chains and call for more sustainable and effective food production systems. Although the key contribution of mineral fertilizers (N and P) to sustain crop production, the plants root plasticity, rhizosphere microbial activities and their interactions play a pivotal role in enhanced nutrient acquisition and crop productivity through a range of beneficial plant-growth-promoting traits (N fixation, phytohormones production, P, K and Zn solubilization, etc.). Improving our understanding of rhizosphere processes (exudation of organic acids and phosphatases) including root plasticity (type and dose and availability of nutrient) and beneficial root-microbes’ interactions is a must for achieving higher crop productivity in a sustainable way. In that regard, there is an urgent need to double the ongoing efforts for developing innovative and sustainable solutions to increase crop production. Hence, exploring the diversity and functioning of soil microbial resources capable of improving nutrients use efficiency and tolerating harsh conditions, could be an effectively integrated nutrient management approach allowing higher yield and nutrient acquisition efficiency. 

The successful candidate will significantly contribute to specific, but in-depth, research activities related to physiological and molecular mechanisms by soil microbes that significantly influence the biological nutrient acquisition and crop growth/yield improvement. 

Key responsibilities: 

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be expected to: 

• Conduct greenhouse and field experiments. 
• Perform soil-plant-microbe “biochemistry, molecular and genomic” analyses. 
• Collaborate with other researchers in the team and beyond.
• Supervise graduate and undergraduate students. 
• Contribute to teaching activities or other transversal training.
• Disseminate research outcomes through participation in scientific events and publish in leading international journals. 

Desired skills and experiences:

• PhD in crop physiology, microbiology, plant molecular physiology, or related fields. 
• At least one year of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent) with practical experience in designing, planning, and conducting experiments with plant-soil-microbes systems including plant, soil, and root measurements. 
• Strong knowledge about plant-soil-microbes interactions including root growth dynamic, root functional traits measurements, root transcriptomic analyses, screening, and characterization of beneficial microbes.
• Understanding of soil biogeochemical processes with special emphasis on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and rhizosphere processes
• Good publication record in well-reputed international journals 
• Experience in supervising students 
• Fluency in spoken English and proficiency in academic writing.
• Aptitude for teamwork, problem solving skills and collaborative relationships. 
• Experience working in a collaborative research environment and willingness to work within a multidisciplinary group.