CESFRA - Postdoctoral researcher in Controlled-Release Fertilizers, Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, and process development

Job Qualifications:

• PhD in applied Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, Plant Biotechnology, Plant and Soil Science, Crop Science, Environmental Science or a relevant field, with expertise in material synthesis, process engineering, or fertilizers.
• Demonstrated experience in either agronomic testing or material development, with willingness and ability to work across disciplines
• Experience in the development and characterization of glass materials and/or controlled-release fertilizers is an asset.
• Strong background in plant-soil interactions and soil health indicators for sustainable crop production systems.
• Solid understanding of plant nutrition and the impact of (a)biotic stresses on plant physiology and biochemistry.
• Experience in setting up and conducting greenhouse, field and lab experiments to evaluate crop nutrient dynamics, physiology and biochemistry in response to ameliorants.
• Knowledge of environmental impact assessment and sustainable agronomic practices
• Prior knowledge of phosphate-based glasses and their applications in fertilizers is preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience in experimental data analysis and modeling of nutrient release processes.
• Hands-on experience in field preparation and establishment of multisite field trials under different soil and climate conditions to optimize yield and quality of various crops.
• A good knowledge of biostimulants and organic/inorganic additives and their mode of action to improve crop yields under abiotic stress (water and salt stress).
• Data scheduling, collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.

Relevant experience consisting of:

• Experience in the development and characterization of glass materials and/or controlled-release fertilizers.
• Conducting agronomic trials under greenhouse and field conditions.
• Experience in experimental data analysis and modeling of nutrient release processes.
• Experience in process scale-up and/or pilot implementation.
• Multisite crop trials establishment with soil and plant analysis, and fertilizer evaluation.
• Use of tools for plant stress physiology and biochemical assessments.
• Assessment of plant physiological and biochemical responses under (a)biotic stress.
• Analytical techniques and modeling of plant nutrient use efficiency, yield, and soil health parameters in response to salinity and other abiotic stresses.
• Experience analyzing the combined effects of glass fertilizers and organic amendments (e.g., compost).
• Study of interactions between glass fertilizers and soil microbial communities.
• Ability to perform statistical data analysis using R and other relevant software and draft technical or scientific reports.
• Ability to write manuscripts for scientific publication.

Key competences:

1. Strong background in process development and material engineering.
2. Plant physiology, biochemistry, and a strong understanding of plant growth mechanisms, nutrient uptake, and physiological responses to fertilization and stress
3. Ability to develop and test phosphate-based glass formulations for controlled nutrient release.
4. (A)biotic Stress and Crop Tolerance: Knowledge of abiotic impacts on crops and strategies for enhancing crop tolerance to these stressors through nutrient management.
5. Agronomic evaluation of innovative fertilizer materials under varied conditions.
6. Determination of water and mineral requirements of crops.
7. Ability to conduct advanced scientific research in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
8. Competence in the design, setup, and commissioning of pilot-scale production units.
9. Proficiency in physicochemical characterization techniques (XRD, Raman, FTIR, etc.).
10. Capacity to assess environmental impact, focusing on nutrient efficiency and pollution reduction.
11. Design and management oflab, greenhouse, and field trials assessing nutrient efficiency and stress resilience.
12. Interpretation of plant tolerance responses to both (a)biotic stress factors.
13. Proven ability to publish in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Personal Attributes:

• Excellent communication skills, including written and oral presentation skills in French and English.
• Excellent Strong motivation for applied research in sustainable and resilient agriculture.
• Autonomous, well-organized, and able to coordinate experimental work independently
• Capable of mentoring and working with PhD students and technicians
• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Very Effective time management.
• Strong Problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated and work under minimal to no supervision