Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Universitat de Barcelona
- Department: Organisation profile
- Research Field: Agricultural sciences, Biological sciences, Computer science, Environmental science
Offer Description
Project title: Microbiome-assisted soil health prediction in horticultural systems
The Agrobiology and Soil Management Group (University of Barcelona) invites applications for a short-term 2.5-month postdoctoral position (full-time) focused on developing and validating machine learning models that predict soil health and crop performance.
The position will exploit datasets integrating biochemical and molecular soil parameters (with a focus on microbiome features from metabarcoding and metagenomics) and agronomic traits generated in horticultural field trials testing organic amendments. The successful candidate will:
- Validate models integrating heterogeneous datasets into predictive frameworks
- Collaborate with researchers for data interpretation and curation
- Draft manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals
- Contribute to grant proposals to secure follow-up funding
- Explore opportunities for exploitation and innovation based on modelling outcomes
- Actively participate in group meetings and joint projects within the Agrobiology and Soil Management Group
The position is led by Dr. Pierre Hohmann (PI) and Dr. Joan Romanyà (Group Leader), both members of the Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA).
Where to apply
Website: http://www.ub.edu/caiac/solBeca?idConvocatoria=50551
Requirements
Research Fields and Education Levels
- Agricultural sciences - PhD or equivalent
- Environmental science - PhD or equivalent
- Biological sciences - PhD or equivalent
- Computer science - PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- PhD in Agricultural Sciences, Soil Science, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics or related disciplines
- Demonstrated expertise in machine learning and strong background in microbiome profiling
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Specific Requirements
- Experience in soil health, organic amendments or crop productivity
- Proven record of high-quality publications
- Entrepreneurial mindset, independence, and interest in research exploitation
- Excellent communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Knowledge of Spanish and Catalan is advantageous
Languages
- ENGLISH - Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
- Full-time research contract (37.5 h/week, 1 FTE) for 2.5 months, with possible extension if funding is secured.
- Collaborative, supportive and creative work atmosphere.
- Opportunities for professional growth, tailored development and diverse responsibilities.
- Healthy work-life balance.
- Networking and engagement in impactful projects shaping sustainable agriculture.
Eligibility criteria
- CV
- Motivation letter
Selection process
The specific committee will agree upon an award proposal and draw up a prioritized shortlist of candidates who have achieved a minimum of 70 points or declare the call for applications null and void if none of the applicants reach the minimum score.
The award proposal will be published in the UB's electronic office and must include the total scores of the candidates that have received a total of at least 70 points.
Application Process
According to the specific requirements and selection criteria, the candidates are expected to provide at least the following documents:
- Full CV
- Motivation letter
Additional comments
The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 3 working days from the date of notification of the selection.
Be aware that the starting date sets in this offer is an estimate date. The official starting date will depend on the time necessary for administration to prepare the labour contract and present the necessary documents for the selected candidate to be hired.
Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Biology, Healthcare and the Enviroment Department - Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science
- Country: Spain
- State/Province: Barcelona
- City: Barcelona
- Postal Code: 08028
- Street: Avda. Joan XXIII, 27-31
Contact
- City: Barcelona
- Website: https://www.ub.edu
- Street: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585
- Postal Code: 08007
