RESEARCHER IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE ON FIELD CROPS (AGROLABS DIGITALS)

IRTA is currently seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Researcher with a PhD related to the fields of Agronomy and Precision Agriculture on field crops to join the Sustainable Field Crops Scientific Program from ambitious candidates with relevant research experience to conduct research and innovation activities on Precision Agriculture in the framework of the project AGROLABS. The focus of the research line will be the development, validation and implementation of tools, methods and strategies enabling precision agriculture for variable rate application of fertilizers, and precision weed management, making use of new digital technologies including IoT, Remote and Proximal Sensing, Computer Vision, IA among others. It will be in coordination with the main research lines of the Sustainable Field Crops Scientific Program. The appointed candidate will lead research of excellence to boost advances in this area of knowledge.Head of the Program: Marta da Silva Program’s key researcher/s for this position: Marta da Silva. Job location: Lleida Full-time position (37.5 h/week) Terms of appointment: Permanent, full-time position. The terms are subject to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. Salary: To be resolved according to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidateEmployee Benefits: 22 vacation days, 3 days of family & work conciliation, 45h of personal days, Friday afternoon off, Compressed Summer schedule from 15/06 to 15/09, Conciliation schedule.Tasks and Responsibilities:To proactively initiate, supervise and/or lead internal and external research projects. To lead and actively contribute fund rising through the preparation and submission of project proposals for public competitive calls and for contracts with the private sector, as well reporting process, such as writing progress and final reports of research activities. To supervise and contribute to the design, implementation and analysis of experiments and field tests, and their subsequent reporting. To continuously update scientific knowledge to be positively transferred to stakeholders and end-users. To help positioning the Sustainable Field Crops Programme as a group of excellence through regular peerreviewed publications, contributions at national and international congresses and supervision of PhD and postdoctoral researchers. Collaborate with the teamwork and team-spirit in the Sustainable Field Crops Scientific Programme, fostering collaboration and integration activities. To work in close collaboration with other teams of IRTA, as well as with external academic, institutional and industrial partners. Required qualifications and experience: Ph.D. in Agronomy, Crop Production or related field preferably with a focus on precision agriculture an international scope and applied approach regarding forecasting models. Postdoc stay/s in laboratories of international recognition. Proven experience in Agronomy preferably in field crops, with a special focus on precision agriculture, and a record of scientific publications in this field. Mathematical and computational skills required for precision agriculture. Proven experience in project management, with good organizational and coordination skills. Proven research skills: experience on project proposal writing, literature review, experimental design and implementation, data analysis, scientific article writing. Proven dissemination skills: presentation/communication skills, and technical writing. Proven capacity to successfully develop collaborative research links with national and international research organizations, and the ability to interact closely with private companies.Proven capacity with modelling tools (Stella, Regression analysis, degree-day models, Mechanistic models, programming language for statistical computing).Desirable requirements:Full driving license for Europe and travelling availability. Good communicative skills and client-oriented thinking and working. Expertise in methodological approaches to develop empirical and mechanistic models. Advanced user of Excel and R or equivalent programs.Languages:Proficiency in English Knowledge of Catalan and Spanish is valued. Application process:If you wish to be considered for this position, please, apply via our Recruitment Platform (https://borsatreball.irta.cat/) to the job post with reference 128/24 and upload your CV and motivation letter. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.