We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Sustainability in Biosystems Program team located in Cabrils, 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 plant and soil ecology in the ERC-funded project ‘WILD-ROOTS’.

The primary objective of the WILD-ROOTS project is to discover how roots and the rhizosphere have been affected by crop domestication, in order to increase the drought resistance of agroecosystems. Our research combines approaches from soil ecology, plant ecophysiology, microbiology and metabolomics.

The PhD student will oversee experiments investigating how domestication has affected drought tolerance of crops, and the role of root exudation, belowground VOCs and the rhizosphere in resisting water stress.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To collaborate with the design, set-up, and running of large-scale experiments (in greenhouse, field and lab).
• To measure and analyse plant and soil parameters, relating to plant performance, root physiology (including root exudation) and plasticity, the soil and rhizosphere microbial community, and soil volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Manage datasets, perform advanced statistical analysis (including multivariate analysis) and interpret results.
• Literature review and writing of scientific articles for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with other IRTA researchers, as well as other external academic and industrial partners active in the measurement of plant-soil interactions and sustainable agriculture.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees:

a) A Master’s in Biological Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Agronomy or similar; or

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

• Strong quantitative and data-handling skills.
• Experience measuring plant and soil traits in experiments or in the field.
• Skills in lab techniques related to molecular or microbial ecology.
• Knowledge of plant-soil interactions, crop domestication and/or agroecosystems.
• Familiarity using the R statistical package.
• Robust analytical and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work as a part of a team.
• Driver license.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Catherine Preece
• 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

60 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.