We are currently seeking a PhD candidate for a Project about Integrative ecophysiology for climate-change-adapted vitculture to join our Fruit Production team located in Caldes de Montbui, offering a great opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment within our organization.

We invite applications from ambitious candidates with relevant research experience and passion to conduct research and innovation activities on the project Integrative ecophysiology for climate-change-adapted viticulture which aims to contribute to the Catalan wine-growing sector’s adaptation to the drier and warmer conditions imposed by climate change. The focus of the research will be to investigate the diversity of functional responses of Vitis’ cultivars and rootstocks to water availability and hot spells, and their impacts on grape yield and quality. The PhD project will encompass field trials with agronomical treatments and various genotypes, controlled experiments in the glasshouse, and an important amount of ecophysiological and agronomical data analysis. The candidate will receive training in a range of scientific approaches used in plant ecophysiology and viticulture and will progressively become an independent researcher in these fields.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To lead field and glasshouse experiments with the guidance and help of the PhD supervisors and the group’s technicians. This includes participating in the experimental design, setup and maintenance, as well as conducting the planned measurements.
• To prepare existing and emerging physiological, environmental, and agronomical data for complex statistical analyses and the visualization of scientific results, ready for their inclusion in peer-reviewed publications.
• To become an expert in ecophysiology and viticulture through training courses, reading the literature, participating in conferences and in exchange programs with other research institutions.
• To produce high quality scientific manuscripts that will be part of the PhD thesis and of peer-reviewed scientific publications. This includes leading the draft preparation with the guidance of the PhD supervisors.
• To participate in the transfer of knowledge activities aimed at the wine growing sector, the administration, and the public.
• To collaborate with the other researchers and technicians in the group and elsewhere working in similar topics, whenever the schedule of their own research project permits.

Required qualifications and experience

Candidates must hold one of the following degrees:

a) A Master’s in Agronomy, Plant Science, Plant Ecology, Environmental Sciences, or similar, but at least including some baseline knowledge in plant ecophysiology.

b) To be in a position to access a doctoral programme according to the requirements of Catalan universities, i.e. accrediting between 60 and 120 ECTS credits at the official university master's degree level or equivalent.

- Not to have a previous PhD degree.

- Candidates who have been chosen for an interview with the Selection Committee, should bring or send –for the interview- a certified copy of the degree and/or master, as well as the academic record showing the marks of all subjects studied.

- Driving license B for the European Union.

- Proficiency in English.

- Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.

- Results-oriented, negotiation skills and communication abilities to build a network of relationships.

Desirable requirements

• To have a genuine curiosity about grapevine ecophysiology in the context of climate change aimed at the transfer of knowledge to the agricultural sector. Previous experience in the topic will be valued but not mandatory.
• To have the ability to understand complex concepts, to assimilate and synthesise the scientific literature, and to write well-structured scientific texts.
• To have a willingness to conduct field and glasshouse experiments despite occasionally harsh conditions.
• To have baseline knowledge in statistical analyses and data visualisation in the software R, or a strong willingness to learn it.
• To be fond of working in a team and interacting with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
• Catalan and/or Spanish will be valued

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisors: Dr Adrià Barbeta and Dr Felicidad de Herralde.
  
• Terms of appointment: 4 years.
• Contract: The financial remuneration for the PhD Candidate contract will be €1,363.10/gross per month (19,083.40/gross per annum) and for the first and second years. For this third year, it will be €1,460.46/gross per month (€20,446.44/gross per annum) and for the fourth year it will be €1,825.58/gross per month (€25,558.12/gross per annum) which will be subject to the corresponding withholdings, pursuant to prevailing regulations, and to the collective employment agreement of IRTA. IRTA will also pay the fees of the doctoral school when receiving the enrolment. ⁽¹⁾
• 37.5 hour workweek, with Friday afternoons off
• Intensive work schedule from 15/06 to 15/09
• 22 vacation days
• 3 days of family & work conciliation
• 45 hours of personal days
• Flexible Schedule for a good work-life balance.
• Continuous training and professional growth opportunities.

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s People Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.

Instructions to Apply

If you wish to be considered for this position and believe you meet the requirements, please send your CV and motivation letter by (deadline for application).

Equal treatment and opportunities are guaranteed for all candidates in the selection process, avoiding any stereotypes, attitudes, or obstacles based on gender, origin, age, ideology, or other potentially discriminatory conditions. Furthermore, commitments to the inclusion of vulnerable groups are considered, with priority given in the first round to disabled candidates.

Timings in the Recruitment Process

30 natural days: Publication and diffusion of the job advertisement on IRTA’s website and/or social media.

5 following working days: Distribution of the pre-selected CVs to the Recruitment Committee for their evaluation.

20 following working days: Interview and/or tests to the most suitable candidates based on the job position.

Start of contract: Third trimestre of 2025 (approximately)

⁽¹⁾ The financial remuneration of the PhD Candidate contract may not be less than 56% of the salary established for the category of Research Collaborator F of the Collective Agreement of the IRTA during the first two years, 60% in the third year and 75% in the fourth.