Postdoc Position in Plant Modelling - In-silico Root System Optimisation for Water and Nitrogen Acquisition

Your Job:

The project, in collaboration with a seed company, aims to identify in maize and soybean germplasm optimal trait combinations resulting in plant lines with an improved yield by optimising water and fertiliser (nitrogen) uptake. The person on the project will use multiscale functional-structural plant models to quantify soil-root processes and identify combinaison of traits beneficial in specific pedo-climatic environments (sensitiviy and scenario analysis).

Your specific tasks:

• Developement of a multiscale modelling pipeline (anatomy and architecture) for the analysis of water and nutrient uptake
  
• Calibration of the model based on experimentl data from the private partner
  
• Performing and analysing senstivity analysis with the modelling pipeline
  
• Performing and analysing scenario analysis with the modelling pipeline

Your Profile:

• A university degree (Master) with subsequent PhD in Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Biology, Computational Physics/Engineering or related fields with strong relation to scientific computing
  
• Recent experience and strong interest in programming and analysis
  
• Experience and interest in functional-structural plant modelling
  
• Strong programming and modern software engineering skills in C/C++ and Python
  
• Fluent handling of UNIX/LINUX and scripting languages
  
• Experience in sensitivity analysis is a bonus
  
• Fluent in spoken and written English
  
• Self-motivated personality, with the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team and environment on challenging problems
  

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• A highly motivated research group in one of the biggest research centers in Europe
  
• An excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
  
• Participation in project meetings and conferences
  
• Strong support and mentoring for setting up a future career in science and/or the industry
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses
  
• Flexible working hours in a full-time position (39 hours/week) with the option of slightly reduced working hours
  
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
  
• Extensive company health management
  
• Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy
  
• A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  
• Exploration and preparation of next career opportunities, supported by our Career Center & Postdoc Office: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/career-center-postdoc-office
  

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere in Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

We offer you an exciting and varied role in an international and interdisciplinary working environment. The position is for a fixed term of 3 years, with possible long-term prospects. Salary and social benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund), pay group 13, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to them.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.