We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Fruit Growing Program and Sustainable plant protection Program teams 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 activities on on the holistic management of Stephanitis pyri in apple and pear orchards.

Stephanitis pyri is a very polyphagous insect that has a high potential to become an emerging biological risk due to global warming and the progressive withdrawal of plant protection products. In the last years, the incidence of this pest in Catalan organic apple and pear orchards has increased and, the fruit working group of the HUB on Plant Health recently identified S. pyri as a potential main pest in both apple and pear orchards. However, research on this insect species is incipient and therefore, providing sustainable tools to manage this emerging biological risk it is crucial to guarantee apple and pear growing in Catalonia.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The PhD student will perform, with the support of the supervisors, a wide range of activities including the literature review, experimental planning, set-up and execution of laboratory and field experiments related to S. pyri management.

Among others, the tasks and responsibilities of the PhD student will include:

• Literature review of S. pyri
• Maintain the rearing of S. pyri for the bioassays of the project.
• Determine the population dynamics of S. pyri in pear and apple orchards for future build-up of a prediction model.
• Evaluate the susceptibility to S. pyri of the most common apple and pear varieties grown in Catalonia and the newly developed by FruitFutur.
• Evaluate the fertilization on the susceptibility of apple and pear varieties to S. pyri.
• Assess calcium silicate to increase resistance of apple and pear trees to S. pyri.
• Elaborate scientific and technical articles during the project.
• Disseminate results of the research project in scientific congresses and technical events for the sector.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees:

a) A Master’s in Plant protection, Agronomy, Biology or similar;
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
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.

Desirable requirements

• Previous experience or knowledge on S. pyri.
• Knowledge on applied entomology and agronomy in fruit orchards.
• Experience in insect rearing and in conducting laboratory and field bioassays.
• Knowledge on applications of Microsoft Office or similar.
• Experience on experiment design and statistical analysis with R or other data analysis software.
• Previous participation in academic projects or collaborations with industry or research institutions.
• Organized, committed, responsible and autonomous with her/his work.
• Good communication skills, verbal and written.
• Driving licence.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Dra. Ainara Peñalver-Cruz & Dra. Georgina Alins
• 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: Fourth 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.