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Biosciences, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

Applications are invited for a Research Associate/Fellow to work on a project to assess the impact of contrasting soil management strategies, in particular tillage, on wheat development in the laboratory of Professor Sacha Mooney (Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, UK).

The purpose of this role is to support the new multi-million £ BBSRC project ‘Delivering Sustainable Wheat’ (DSW). Wheat will play a crucial part in feeding a global population of 10B by 2050 but its production is fragile as more than half the global supply is from just five countries. Future increases in wheat production have to be achieved without equivalent growth in fertiliser (nitrogen fertilisers are a major source of greenhouse gasses) and water use (all wheat growing regions are suffering ground water decline). While facing these challenges farmers are also confronted with yield limiting effects of climate change and new diseases. Adaptations are needed to achieve sustainable production in the coming decades. A key focus of this new role is to assess the impact of changing soil management practices such as reduced tillage on wheat production. The high-level objective of the research is to improve root function for enhanced resource use efficiency and carbon sequestration throughout the soil profile. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the partners of the DSW programme, especially at Rothamsted Research. This post offers a unique opportunity to work in the fast-developing field of soil biophysics and to develop skills in state-of-the-art technologies like X-ray Computed Tomography imaging.

Applicants must be highly motivated and self-driven, with a PhD (or close to completion) in a relevant terrestrial environmental/agricultural science or biological/physics sciences area (a PhD topic on plant-soil interactions is desirable). It is desirable for the successful candidate to have considerable experience in some of the following areas: soil science, environmental science, agricultural science, plant science, image analysis. A track record of publishing research is essential.

This is a full-time post (36.25 hours) and is available immediately and will be offered on a permanent with underlying funding contract, funded until 31st March 2028. Job share arrangements may be considered.

For more information on our lab activities please visit: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/microCT

For informal enquiries please contact Sacha Mooney ([email protected])
Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.