We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Fruit Growing Program and Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture Program team located in Lleida, offering a great opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment within our organization.

We invite applications from motivated candidates with passion and a strong interest in conducting research and innovation in artificial intelligence and data science applied to agriculture, particularly in areas such as plant modelling, 3D computer vision, and digital twin development. The applicant will contribute to the AGROLABS Digitals IRTA project, specifically to the PomaTwin tool, which aims to develop a Digital Twin of apple orchards to support agricultural decision-making.

Depending on the candidate’s background and motivational interests, the PhD research can be oriented either toward:

• the development, validation, and adaptive refinement of models to estimate carbohydrate balance and its distribution across tree structures under different environmental conditions, and/or
• the modelling of the 3D dynamics of apple tree growth using a combination of 3D sensors, computer vision, and physiological modelling under different environmental conditions (TreeGrowthTwin project).

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development, validation and adaptive refinement of models for simulating either the carbohydrate balance in fruit trees or their structural growth dynamics under different environmental and management conditions.
  
• Maintain and process longitudinal datasets from field trials, including sensor data (3D, environmental, physiological) and management records.
  
• Coordinate, design, and execute experimental trials involving different environmental conditions, irrigation strategies, training systems, and cultivar/rootstock combinations.
  
• Develop data processing pipelines and analytical tools for integrating sensor data, physiological measurements, and model outputs.
  
• Support the integration of modelling tools and data into IRTA’s PomaTwin digital tool.
  
• Writing of scientific articles, and to contribute to the scientific production of the research activities of the research line.
  
• Participate in dissemination and communication activities, including presentations at scientific conferences, stakeholder events, and collaborative workshops.
  
• To supervise bachelor’s degree students doing practices related to the project.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in one of the following fields:

• Computer Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Telecommunications, Computer Vision, Bioinformatics or equivalent;
  

• Alternatively:
  • A degree in another field of Engineering, or a degree in the Life Sciences field (e.g., Agricultural Science, Biology, Biotechnology,...). In this case, candidates must demonstrate a motivation and a strong willingness to learn and a proactive attitude toward new technologies and programming.
• 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.
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.
• Willingness to conduct agronomic and field work.

Desirable requirements

• Programming skills in a suitable language (e.g., Pyhton) and experience in specialized libraries for Data Analysis, Machine Learning and Deep Learning (Scikit-learn, Pytorch, TensorFlow or equivalent) will be valued.
  
• Knowledge in plant growth modelling and agro-environmental simulations tools (AquaCrop, Malusim, APSIM, ...) will be valued.
  
• Good statistical data analysis skills.
  
• Dissemination skills: presentation/communication skills, and technical writing.
• Good written and oral English skills.
  
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.
• Driving license.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Jaume Lordan Sanahuja and Jordi Gené Mola
• 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.

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

45 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: Last Quarter 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.