CESFRA - Postdoctoral Researcher in Controlled-Release Fertilizers

Postdoctoral researcher in Controlled-Release Fertilizers, Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, and process development

Job Qualifications

* PhD in applied Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, Plant Biotechnology, Plant and Soil Science, Crop Science, Environmental Science or a relevant field, with expertise in material synthesis, process engineering, or fertilizers.
* Demonstrated experience in either agronomic testing or material development, with willingness and ability to work across disciplines
* Experience in the development and characterization of glass materials and/or controlled-release fertilizers is an asset.
* Strong background in plant-soil interactions and soil health indicators for sustainable crop production systems.
* Solid understanding of plant nutrition and the impact of (a)biotic stresses on plant physiology and biochemistry.
* Experience in setting up and conducting greenhouse, field and lab experiments to evaluate crop nutrient dynamics, physiology and biochemistry in response to ameliorants.
* Knowledge of environmental impact assessment and sustainable agronomic practices
* Prior knowledge of phosphate-based glasses and their applications in fertilizers is preferred but not mandatory.
* Experience in experimental data analysis and modeling of nutrient release processes.
* Hands-on experience in field preparation and establishment of multisite field trials under different soil and climate conditions to optimize yield and quality of various crops.
* A good knowledge of biostimulants and organic/inorganic additives and their mode of action to improve crop yields under abiotic stress (water and salt stress).
* Data scheduling, collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.

Relevant Experience Consisting Of

* Experience in the development and characterization of glass materials and/or controlled-release fertilizers.
* Conducting agronomic trials under greenhouse and field conditions.
* Experience in experimental data analysis and modeling of nutrient release processes.
* Experience in process scale-up and/or pilot implementation.
* Multisite crop trials establishment with soil and plant analysis, and fertilizer evaluation.
* Use of tools for plant stress physiology and biochemical assessments.
* Assessment of plant physiological and biochemical responses under (a)biotic stress.
* Analytical techniques and modeling of plant nutrient use efficiency, yield, and soil health parameters in response to salinity and other abiotic stresses.
* Experience analyzing the combined effects of glass fertilizers and organic amendments (e.g., compost).
* Study of interactions between glass fertilizers and soil microbial communities.
* Ability to perform statistical data analysis using R and other relevant software and draft technical or scientific reports.
* Ability to write manuscripts for scientific publication.

Key Competences

* Strong background in process development and material engineering.
* Plant physiology, biochemistry, and a strong understanding of plant growth mechanisms, nutrient uptake, and physiological responses to fertilization and stress
* Ability to develop and test phosphate-based glass formulations for controlled nutrient release.
* (A)biotic Stress and Crop Tolerance: Knowledge of abiotic impacts on crops and strategies for enhancing crop tolerance to these stressors through nutrient management.
* Agronomic evaluation of innovative fertilizer materials under varied conditions.
* Determination of water and mineral requirements of crops.
* Ability to conduct advanced scientific research in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
* Competence in the design, setup, and commissioning of pilot-scale production units.
* Proficiency in physicochemical characterization techniques (XRD, Raman, FTIR, etc.).
* Capacity to assess environmental impact, focusing on nutrient efficiency and pollution reduction.
* Design and management of lab, greenhouse, and field trials assessing nutrient efficiency and stress resilience.
* Interpretation of plant tolerance responses to both (a)biotic stress factors.
* Proven ability to publish in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Personal Attributes

* Excellent communication skills, including written and oral presentation skills in French and English.
* Excellent Strong motivation for applied research in sustainable and resilient agriculture.
* Autonomous, well-organized, and able to coordinate experimental work independently
* Capable of mentoring and working with PhD students and technicians
* Strong leadership skills.
* Strong decision-making skills.
* Very Effective time management.
* Strong Problem-solving skills.
* Self-motivated and work under minimal to no supervision