PostDoc Position: Ecosystem services of perennial legumes
Publication date:
27 September 2024Workload:
100%- Place of work:Schweiz - Zürich & Schaffhausen
PostDoc Position: Ecosystem services of perennial legumes
Project description
Twenty-one European partners are joining their forces in the Horizon Europe project LEGENDARY to foster the delivery of ecosystem services by enhancing the use of legumes in Europe. Therefore, LEGENDARY will develop tools that go beyond the state-of-the-art to quantify the ecosystem services of legumes, taking into account different agro-climatic zones. Multi-site field experiments with a common design will examine annual and perennial legume species grown in multi-species mixtures and diversified cropping systems. These common experiments will be supplemented by site-specific treatments and measurements. The PostDoc candidate will be responsible for the research with different perennial legume species in sown grasslands (leys in the crop rotation) at the Swiss site. The results of these experiments will be used as input data to develop tools and methods for the valuation of the regulating and cultural/social ecosystem services, resulting in ready-to-use indicators that will allow farmers and advisors to better assess the benefits of legumes.
Tasks
- Conducting field experiments with perennial legumes and multi-species mixtures
- Co-development of research protocols to assess ecosystem services
- Statistical analysis and interpretation of the collected data
- Publication of results in international journals
- Contributing to the representation of the Swiss team in the interdisciplinary LEGENDARY project
Requirements
- PhD in Agronomy, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences or similar
- Experience in agroecology and/or ecophysiology
- Experience in planning and conducting field experiments
- Solid knowledge of statistical analysis and the R software
- Highly motivated, team-oriented, strong interest in agroecology
- Good communication and writing skills (ideally in English and German or French)
Organisation
The Swiss Grassland Society (AGFF, Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Förderung des Futterbaues) is a national organization governed by a joint body of research institutes, industry partners, associations, advisors and farmers. Its main activity is to establish close links between all partners interested in grasslands to achieve high quality forage and sustainable, site-adapted management of grassland optimizing ecosystem services and multifunctionality. The LEGENDARY project is being carried out in close collaboration with the research group “Forage Production and Grassland Systems” of Agroscope, the Swiss federal centre of excellence for research in agriculture and the food sector. We offer exciting research in an interdisciplinary project team, expert supervision and an excellent research infrastructure.
Starting date 1st of January 2025 or as agreed. Duration 3-4 years.
Place of work Zurich
Salary According to the standards of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Employment level 80-100%
Application
We look forward to receiving your online application, including a maximum 1-page letter outlining your suitability and motivation for the position; detailed CV, including a list of publications; transcripts of degrees; a maximum 1-page statement outlining your research project experience to date; 2-3 referees; all together in one single PDF file.
Please send your application until October 25th to E-Mail schreiben with the subjet “LEGENDARY-your name”. Additional information can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Andreas Lüscher (E-Mail schreiben) (please do not send applications to this email address).