Postdoc - study of organic soybean and lupin production in Sweden

Department of Crop Production Ecology
The Department of Crop Production Ecology, together with the Department of Ecology make up the inspiring research environment of the SLU Ecology Centre in Uppsala. We educate and conduct research on plants for food, feed and energy with focus on production that is related to plants on agricultural land and their interactions with the surrounding environment. We investigate how various production methods, agrarian environments and systems affect yields and other ecosystem services as well as product quality and the surrounding environment. Our education is conducted from a sustainable-system  perspective, with focus on plant production, plant protection, plant ecology, weed biology and crop- production systems.
As postdoc you will work in a network of interdisciplinary research projects, investigating the cultivation potential for lupin and soybean in Sweden. The projects are seeking to combine research approaches across scales. Field experimentation for investigating agronomic and ecological questions are combined with site suitability, farm and sustainability analyses, as well as with consumer preference surveys.

Your main activities will be the analysis of data related to crop production and weed management:
1) to assess the influence of crop spatial arrangement and density on crop productivity and quality as well as on weed-crop competition.
2) to investigate the effect of cultivar specific traits on crop productivity and quality as well as on crop-weed competition.
Furthermore, you are required to summarise your research results in scientific articles.

Qualifications:
The successful applicant should hold a PhD in crop science, agricultural science or a related subject area and are required to demonstrate sound knowledge in the area of crop production. Priority will be given to applicants who received a PhD no longer than three years prior to the application deadline (considering career breaks, e.g. due to parental leave). Furthermore, candidates must have documented experience in statistical analysis of data from agricultural field experiments. They are also required to show good command of the R software environment for statistical computing. A good command of English (written and oral) is required. The work may include periods of fieldwork and travel across Sweden, therefore, a valid driving license is required.

The selected candidate will work in an international and interdisciplinary research team as well as with relevant stakeholders from the agricultural industry and governmental agencies. Therefore, emphasis of the interview will be on the candidates communication skills and system thinking competences.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 24 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
According to agreement. 

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-01-07, use the button below.

The application must be written in English and contain: i) a statement of scientific interests and motivation for applying to this position (max. one A4 page, font size 12, single line spacing); ii) Curriculum Vitae including a complete publication list; iii) copy of the PhD thesis; iv) copies of previous university degrees and transcripts of academic records and v) contact information of at least two reference persons familiar with the applicant's qualifications.

Please observe that applicant/s chosen to participate in an interview shall hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or university college) and transcripts in connection to the interview.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se