Doctoral researcher (PhD) for on-farm experiments (f/m/d)

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). The institute also maintains locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The in-house project CRoP-SMART (Comprehensive Research on Crop Performance: Statistical Methods for Agricultural Research and Technology) will evaluate crop performance and soil quality among different on-farm experimental set-ups in Germany and aims to optimize different statistical solutions for long-term, landscape and monitoring experimentation. CRoP-SMART will select the most appropriate statistical and geostatistical solutions for crop and soil data collected at different spatial and temporal scales and concludes in a catalogue of tools that ca be used for future agronomic data evaluation in experimental on-farm set-ups. The results will feed into regional living labs to facilitate knowledge exchange among different stakeholders.

This position is located in the ZALF research area “Land Use and Governance” in the working group “Resource-Efficient Cropping Systems”. We are offering a part-time 65% position temporarily limited for 36 months (3 years) starting earliest in October 2024 at our location in Müncheberg as

Doctoral researcher (PhD)

for on-farm experiments (f/m/d)

Your tasks:

• data compilation and harmonization for three German on-farm long-term experiments
• collection of additional (available and new field) data to support and extend data exploration
• data evaluation and application of advanced statistical methods for spatial and temporal agronomic data sets
• assess crop performance and soil quality dynamics within a cropping system context
• publication in international peer-reviewed journals and presentation of results at conferences and workshops

Your qualifications:

• excellent completion of a Master (or equivalent) in agricultural science with a focus on crop and/or soil science or biometry
• advanced knowledge of data processing or programming language (e.g., R)
• effective use of geographic information systems (GIS) and geostatistical tools is required
• as an internationally research institution, located in Germany we require good to very good written and spoken English skills and the willingness to take part in further training as part of the language courses in German offered internally

We offer:

• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliancesalary in accordance with the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, up to level E13 with a 65% weekly working time, including special annual payment
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• company train ticket
• strong institutional commitment to a good work-life balance
• membership in ZALF’s graduate program (incl. benefit from skill training courses)
• in-house language courses in German and English

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. The filling of the position in part-time is possible in principle. Please send your application preferably online (see button online application below). For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) with the usual documents, in particular CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 54-2024 until 11 August 2024 to (see button e-mail application below).

https://jobs.zalf.de/jobposting/60180fdf55dd6811068d496d7488cd78aaa8b3740

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Kathrin Grahmann, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-142, Kathrin.Grahmann(at)zalf.de.

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.