[Netherlands] Postdoctoral Researcher: Designing Climate-robust Cropping Systems
Postdoctoral Researcher: Designing Climate-robust Cropping Systems
Wageningen (The Netherlands) 38 hours per week
Plant Sciences Group – Wageningen University and Research Centre
Vacancy number: DPW 08-05
Organization
Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) is an internationally renowned knowledge institute in the fields of life sciences and sustainability. It makes an essential contribution to the quality of life through pioneering research and innovative education in the fields of health and nutrition, sustainable agricultural systems and a viable environment.
Wageningen Plant Sciences Group is a Wageningen UR consortium, bringing together the expertise of Wageningen University and the research institutes Plant Research International (PRI) and PPO (Applied Plant Research).
The theme of the chair groups ‘Crop and Weed Ecology’ (CWE) is ‘making more with plants’. In partnership with other groups, CWE contributes to the development of high quality plant production in sustainable agro-ecosystems through research and teaching. CWE’s emphasis is on improvement and innovation of plant production at various levels of integration; from genotypes to cropping systems and production chains. Based on this work CWE also contributes to assessments of risks arising from climate variability and climate change. The groups core expertise is in the quantification of complex and often non-linear interactions between plants (or genotypes), management and the environment (GxMxE).
Position description
The position reports directly to the Head of the Chair Groups ‘Crop and Weed Ecology’ (CWE) within the Plant Sciences Group of WUR. This is a new position created explicitly to assist the Head in breaking new ground within the domain of ‘adaptation science’. The incumbent’s challenge will be to seek novel, plant-based solutions to global problems within this new domain.
Purpose of the position
To initiate and lead projects, which develop and seek applications for model-based, quantitative systems analyses of, in the first instance, rice-based cropping systems. The position will have an equal focus on developing/improving the essential modelling capabilities and on writing research proposals to the attract the necessary investment for such developments.
Background
Many solutions for our global problems will be plant-based. This ranges from feeding and clothing an ever increasing world population to generating energy or developing new remedies. Plant-based solutions must be implemented sustainably by harnessing the environmental benefits of plants and plant production. To realise such a sustainable, bio-based economy requires innovative scientists, who understand how plants and plant systems function, how they can be managed and how they can be integrated into our existing agro-ecosystems. Especially for rice – the most important food crop – new, sustainable solutions that increase yields and reduce resource use must be found. To this end, the incumbent will be responsible to further develop, implement and maintain a Community of Practice (CoP) between consortium partners who are actively perusing similar objectives. The current CoP consists of, but is not limited to, partners from across WUR and diverse organisations such as IRRI (Philippines), CIRAD (France), APSRU (Australia) and NIAES (Japan).
Requirements
The ideal candidate will fulfil the following requirements:
Mandatory:
- PhD in a relevant subject area
- Communicates effectively: Evidence of effective verbal and written communication skills (e.g. scientific publications, successful grant submissions, interviews and newspaper articles) including the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders (scientists, science managers, policy makers, farmers)
- Knowledge of and experience in modelling: Demonstrated competences and interest in simulation modelling with a clear understanding of and commitment to software engineering principles (rice-based modelling experience would be a distinct advantage)
- Knowledge of and experience in climate risk management: Demonstrated understanding of climate variability and climate change processes and their influence on agricultural systems (especially plant-based systems)
Highly desirable:
- A recognised team player, who will assume a leading role in project development
- Commitment to the principles of a ‘Community of Practice’
- a ‘can-do’ attitude with a clear outcome focus
- willingness to travel and to assume responsibility as required
Funding applies to: Open to applicants from a range of countries
Contacts and how to apply
Administrative contact and how to apply:
Conditions of employment
- Start: immediate or as soon as possible
- Estimated maximum salary per month: € 4284 (scale 11)
- Duration of the contract: 12 months with the possibility of extension subject to funds
- Maximum hours per week: 38
Application deadline: 4 April 2008
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Prof Holger Meinke, CWE, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, Tel +31 3174 84772 or email
holger.meinke@wur.nl
Application
Please send your application before April 4th 2008 to:
Wageningen UR, Plant Sciences Group, Mrs A.M.D. Bikker, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands, e-mail address: vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl
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