PhD position in “Linking soil biodiversity, agricultural management and pedo-climatic zones”

The University of Vigo (UVIGO) and Syngenta Crop Protection are inviting applications for PhD positions through the Collaborative University-Industry scheme. Climate strongly influences the abundance and community structure of soil organisms in agroecosystems, but local agricultural practices can also alter the natural composition of soil communities. Intensive cultivations (e.g., conventional systems) usually cause long-term negative effects in soil agroecosystems, by reducing soil biodiversity and altering edaphic processes, and that is why more sustainable practices, such as conservation agriculture and organic farming, have been increasingly adopted to promote soil health and the diversity and abundance of fauna.

We are looking for a PhD candidate willing to embrace a multidisciplinary approach by gaining ecological/taxonomical knowledge at the UVIGO and benefiting from the extensive Syngenta network of experimental farms with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the Syngenta projects LivinGro® and Sustainable Farming System. The ultimate aim of this PhD will be to provide information about best management practices that protects soil biodiversity, in line with several ongoing international initiatives (e.g. the new EU Soil Strategy, Green Deal, SDGs).