Federal Department of Economic Affairs,
Education and Research EAER
Agroscope

Job Advertisement Agroscope

Position
Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cereal Crops

Introduction
Numerous European research projects have shown in the last 40 years that mixtures of varieties have great
potential in cereals to improve yield and quality stability, reduce the spread of diseases and slow down the
breakdown of resistances.
However, up to now it is largely unknown which characteristics of the mixture partners are important to form a
successful mixture. The present project aims to provide further insights into the research of wheat variety
mixtures.
This project is split in three parts: field trials in small plots in a diallel design (combining all single varieties), a
single plant trial under different conditions for plant growing analysis, and a quality analytical part of the field trial
grains. The challenge is to propose new evaluation tools to improve cultivar characterization- and adaptation- to
variety mixing ability and to climatic constraints, in a changing climate with limiting crop-growing conditions.

Tasks
You will:

• coordinate the scientific aspects of the project


• contribute to develop protocols and to field data acquisition


• validate and improve existing models based on field results and integrate environmental constraints


• model specific mixing ability, validate it by field experiments


• test the possibility to reduce the number of key parameters in order to integrate them in regular breeding
  programs


• integrate the quality analyses of the samples in the global evaluation


• create an overview of all data of the project and general publications on mixing ability


• prepare reports on the ongoing results and workshop presentations for national meetings


• publish the outcomes of this research in peer-reviewed journals and present them at international scientific
  conferences

Requirements

• PhD in the in crop- or, environmental sciences or related fields


• Strong interest in crop physiology, and understanding of field crops agronomy and cultivars management


• Some experience with crop modelling


• You are a communicative person, who is independent in his work and appreciate to work in a team


• You are proficient in statistical analysis (R), as well as IT skills, and have experience in writing scientific
  papers


• Proficiency in English; good knowledge of French and/or German would be advantageous (working
  languages of the group are French and English; some partners are German speaking)

Information about Agroscope
Agroscope is the Swiss federal centre of excellence for research in the agriculture and food sector. Its researchers
carry out their work at a number of sites in Switzerland. Headquartered in Bern-Liebefeld, Agroscope is attached
to the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER.
This position is based at the group of Varieties and Production Techniques of Agroscope. The work will be carried
out in collaboration with researchers of the INRAE of Dijon.

We offer a stimulating work environment in a multidisciplinary consortium with diverse actors of the Swiss partners
of the wheat value chain IP-Suisse, Jowa, Delley seeds and plants Ltd. and wheat breeders of Agroscope, as well
as a close support throughout the project.
We offer varied work in a young and multidisciplinary research team, as well as thorough initial training.
Agroscope have excellent core facilities providing support in a wide array of research fields.

Place of work 1260 Nyon VD
Pay grade According to standarts of the Swiss National Science Foundation
Level of employment 70 %

Contact
If this challenge appeals to you and you meet our requirements profile, we look forward to receiving your online
application (human.resources@agroscope.admin.ch, Ref.nr. 44279). Closing date: January 16, 2021 (or until
position is filled). Online applications consist of a single PDF comprising an application letter, a CV, a reference
letter, copies of PhD diplomas, and the email addresses of 2 referees.
Employment rate is 70 %, according to the skills of the candidate, an employment rate of 100 % is possible for
this position, with a corresponding involvement in another project.
For further information, please contact Dr. Lilia Levy (lilia.levy@agroscope.admin.ch) (project supervisor and
head of the team cereal crops). Do not send applications to these email addresses.
Agroscope will remain closed from 24.12.2020 to 03.01.2021. No applications will be processed during this
period. Start: 1 March 2021 or upon agreement. Duration of employment: 3.5 years.