3 year Fixed Term contract (to commence 1 January 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter)
£23,837 to £27,304 per annum with additional performance related pay up to £32,094 per annum (Research Assistant) £32,094 per annum (Research Fellow)
Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in science, technology and management. The Soil and Agrifood Institute has internationally-recognised expertise and some of the best soils research facilities in Europe, as well as hosting national and international soil data assets.
You will contribute to a 3 year project funded by the BBSRC 'Using plant roots to bio-engineer soil'. The aims are to develop a novel model to select and combine complementary root traits in cover crops that prevent soil resource losses and improve crop growth conditions. No study has looked at the effects of root properties of cover crops to synergistically enhance multiple soil functions. You will help develop a model to combine complementary root traits in plant communities and to model their effects on multiple soil functions. You will also perform root screening with ten common cover crops (oat, rye, ryegrass, Festulolium, buckwheat, mustard, fodder radish, phacelia, Lucerne and vetch) grown in the lab and in the field, under different environments prone to soil degradation.
You must have a PhD (obtained or near completion) in the field plant-soil analysis and modelling of plant-soil interactions, alongside experience in statistical analysis of complex data and mathematical modelling. You will have excellent project and time management skills, and oral and written communication skills for mixed audiences. You will need to be willing to travel to field test sites and to work with project partners in the agri-business and environmental policy sector.
For an informal discussion, please contact Dr. Sarah De Baets
at
[email protected]Cranfield University is committed to promoting a harmonious working and learning environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, recognising that the contribution of all its people will be most effective in conditions which are inclusive.
We are signatories to the Athena SWAN Charter and achieved a Bronze Opportunity Now Award. We also run the Leadership Foundation’s Aurora Programme. Your career at Cranfield will be enhanced through access to extensive research and business training through our learning and development team and doctoral training centres in a collegiate and supportive environment.
Your career at Cranfield will be enhanced through access to fully equipped shared laboratory and pilot facilities, extensive research and business training through our learning and development team and doctoral training centres in a collegiate and supportive environment.
Apply online now at
www.cranfield.ac.uk/hr or contact us for further details on E:
[email protected] or T: +44 (0)1234 750111 Ext. 2342. For any enquiries, please quote reference number 2531.
Closing date for receipt of applications: 30 October 2017
Interviews to be held: 15 November 2017
www.cranfield.ac.uk
