PhD position - Biogeochemical Soil and Rhizosphere Modeling

Your Job:

The work will be part of the project "Combining ROot contrasted Phenotypes for more resilient agro ecosystems" (CROP) funded within the program of the German Ministry for Education and Science (BMBF) “Plant roots and soil ecosystems: Importance of the rhizosphere for the bioeconomy” in the framework of the “National Research Strategy Bioeconomy 2030”. In collaboration with the University, the project aims to assess the beneficial effects of cultivar mixtures with complementary root phenotypes within an agricultural field. Wwe evaluate the benefits of the cropping system in terms of water, carbon and nitrogen fluxes, microbial communities and yield. We use complementary experimental methods and modeling to achieve this goal. Your work will build on the process-based soil-rhizosphere-plant model developed in the first phase of CROP which integrates a 3D functional-structural approach (CPlantBox) to mechanistically simulate plant growth, plant-soil interactions and the rhizosphere microbiome. You will contribute to extend and apply the modeling approach for calculating water, carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the plant and soil to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency and drought resistance at critical stages of plant development. You will work in an interdisciplinary team with postdoctoral researchers from Jülich and Hohenheim.

Your tasks in detail:

• Extend the existing model to account for mucilage effects on soil hydraulic properties and growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated to plant roots
  
• Literature research and (meta-)analysis to gain evidence-based knowledge for model parameterization
  
• Model conditioning with experimental data from phase I and II
  
• Perform scenario simulations and analyze simulation results
  
• Implement and use a drought resilience and nirogen use efficiency assessment framework with experimental data and simulation results
  
• Present and publish results at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals

Your Profile:

• Master’s degree in bioengineering, environmental sciences, soil science or applied mathematics
  
• Knowledge of plant science, soil science and microbial ecology
  
• Solid understanding of differential calculus
  
• Programming skills
  
• Independent and cooperative working in an international, interdisciplinary team across institutes
  
• Very good communication and organizational skills
  
• Very good command of the English language
  

Please feel free to apply for the position even if you do not have all the required skills and knowledge. We may be able to teach you missing skills during your induction.

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 offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Competent and interdisciplinary working environment, as well as an excellent framework in the areas of experiments and modelling
  
• Vibrant international work environment on an attractive research campus, ideally situated between the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen
  
• Attendance at national and international conferences and workshops
  
• Possibility for further scientific and technical training through international experts
  
• Exceptional research infrastructure
  
• Flexible working hours
  
• Continuous professional supervision by your scientific supervisor
  
• Extensive company health management
  
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
  
• 30 days of annual leave and an attractive regulation for bridging days
  
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
  

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

The employment of doctoral researchers at Jülich is governed by a doctoral contract, which usually has a term of three years. Pay is above average and in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: https://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

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.