Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Agroecology programme. The position is available from 01 October 2025 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.
Title
Exploring GxExM interactions of perennial grain hybrids for climate resilient agriculture
Research area and project description
Hybridized perennial grains such as perennial wheat and perennial rye show promising grain yield compared with the wild type of perennial candidates such as intermediate wheatgrass. However, their perenniality – the capacity for re-growth and sustained biomass and grain production across seasons - can vary considerably among breeding lines/genotypes (G) and environments (E). In addition, management practices (M) that could balance the trade-offs between grain yield and perenniality have yet to be clearly identified.
Therefore, this PhD project explores how perennial hybrid genotypes response to abiotic stresses (e.g. drought and flooding) and soil management strategies (e.g. biochar amendment) aimed at enhancing perenniality.
The project will evaluate:
1. Which root and shoot traits correlate with perennial responses using varying genotypes of perennial hybrids.
2. How water stress conditions (drought and flooding) interact with soil amendments to influence plant persistence.
3. Whether specific traits can be targeted for breeding or management interventions.
The project ultimately aims to identify GxExM interactions that enhance the perenniality of the hybrids grain crops contributing to the development of more productive and environmentally resilient cropping systems.
The PhD student will conduct experiments in greenhouse settings, field trial and on famers’ field sites. The candidate will have an opportunity to engage with a diverse research community within the department, which spans expertise in root science, perennial agronomy, soil hydrology and plant phenomics.
The PhD project is partly supported by the Sino-Danish program; therefore, a research stay in China for a minimum of nine months is mandatory during the PhD period. This stay can be completed either in one continuous period or split across two to three visits.
Project description
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. Please simply copy the project description above and upload it as a PDF in the application.
Qualifications and specific competences
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant master’s degree within crop ecophysiology, biology, engineering or similar. Good analytical skills of processes as well as on the holistic system evaluation are required.
Furthermore, one or more of the following will count positive:
- Understanding of agronomic principles in both annual and perennial cropping systems
- Knowledge and experience in quantitative genetics or breeding trials – e.g. affinity with GWAS
- Familiarity with plant phenotyping (e.g. leaf imaging)
- Experience in handling and analyzing data from diverse sources (e.g R or python coding skills)
- Demonstrated interest in managing and participation in fieldwork (e.g. soil coring)
- Interest in capturing and processing drone imagery
- Motivation for academic writing and ability to effectively communicate research findings
- Proven ability to work independently and take initiative in research projects
Place of employment and place of work
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is AU Viborg, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Contacts
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:
- Mathias Neumann Andersen, mathiasn.andersen@agro.au.dk (main supervisor)
- Eusun Han, eusun.han@agro.au.dk (co-supervisor)
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:
How to apply
Please follow this link to submit your application.
Application deadline is 20 May 2025 at 23:59 CEST
Preferred starting date is 01 October 2025
Please note:
- Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be taken into account.
- The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
- Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Viborg Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aarhus Universitet, Blichers alle, 8830 Tjele
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 20-05-2025;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/4f054474-c07a-423b-91aa-c2721ba70880
