PhD Candidate in Genetic and Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Stress Adaptation and Variety Performance in Crops

IRTA; Lérida; On-site; EUR 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

IRTA in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain is seeking a PhD candidate to join the Sustainable Field Crops Program. The doctoral research, embedded in the Horizon Europe HEROCROP project, will study genetic and phenotypic determinants of crop performance across contrasting environments.

You will work with an international consortium on wheat and cross-crop collaborations, combining field phenotyping, genomic data and advanced statistics to develop predictive models.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agronomy or related field.
• Ability to organise experimental work and collect data.
• Good written and spoken English.
• Interest in statistics and computational methods (R or Python).
• Experience with field trials or phenotyping is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design, coordination and evaluation of experiments.
• Characterise phenotypic diversity using standardized methods.
• Apply field-based and high-throughput phenotyping to describe crop development.
• Analyse genetic, environmental and management sources of variation (G×E×M).
• Integrate phenotypic, genetic, environmental and agronomic datasets to develop predictive approaches.
• Collaborate with HEROCROP partners and communicate results through papers/conferences.

Skills

Field trials

Phenotyping

R

Python

Data analysis

Teamwork

English communication

Genetics

Statistical analysis

Education

Master’s degree in agronomy or related field

Job description

We are looking for a PhD Candidate to join the Sustainable Field Crops Program team, based in Lleida (Catalonia, Spain). We offer the opportunity to be part of an organization with a dynamic, collaborative work environment focused on professional development.

The position is embedded in HEROCROP, a Horizon Europe research project addressing crop resilience through interdisciplinary studies of plant adaptation, phenotypic variability and genotype × environment × management (G×E×M) interactions. The successful candidate will collaborate with an international consortium combining crop physiology, breeding, agronomy and advanced statistical analysis. The doctoral research will investigate the genetic and phenotypic determinants of crop performance and stability under contrasting environmental and management conditions, with a principal experimental emphasis on wheat and opportunities for cross-crop scientific collaboration. The work will combine field phenotyping, genetic information and quantitative analysis to assess and predict varietal performance across environments.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design, coordination and scientific evaluation of controlled and field-based experiments addressing crop responses to environmental constraints and management variation.
• Characterise phenotypic diversity and adaptive responses in selected crop genetic resources, using harmonised agronomic and physiological assessment methods.
• Apply and evaluate field-based and high-throughput phenotyping approaches to describe crop development, performance and responses to stress.
• Analyse genetic, environmental and management sources of variation in crop performance, including genotype-by-environment-by-management (G×E×M) interactions.
• Integrate phenotypic, genetic, environmental and agronomic datasets to develop and evaluate statistical and predictive approaches for varietal performance and adaptation, using reproducible research workflows.
• Evaluate the reliability and transferability of phenotypic and genetic information for variety evaluation, crop improvement and breeding-oriented prediction.
• Work with HEROCROP partners on experimental harmonisation, research data stewardship, scientific interpretation and communication of results through papers and conferences.

Required qualifications and experience

• Master’s degree in agronomy, crop science, plant breeding, genetics, plant biology or a related discipline eligible for doctoral enrolment.
• Ability to organise experimental work, collect reliable data and interpret research findings.
• Good written and spoken English; communication and scientific writing skills.
• Motivation to learn and apply statistical and computational methods (e.g., R or Python) in an international research consortium.
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.
• Experience in field trials, experimental design, crop phenotyping, quantitative genetics, genetic-marker data or multi-environment experiments.
• Familiarity with genomic data analysis, genomic prediction, mixed models, remote sensing, field sensors or crop modelling is an advantage.
• Knowledge of crop responses to abiotic or biotic constraints and interactions with management practices.
• Experience with R or Python.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Dr. Marta da Silva and Dr. Lin Tang.
• Contract: 4 years
• Gross annual salary in 14 payments:
• First and second year: 19,656,35€
• Third year: 21,060,37€
• Fourth year: 26,325,47€

Will be subject to the corresponding withholdings, pursuant to prevailing regulations, and to the collective employment agreement of IRTA. IRTA will also pay the fees of the doctoral school when receiving the enrolment.

• 37.5 hour workweek, with Friday afternoons off
• Intensive work schedule from 15/06 to 15/09
• 3 days of family & work conciliation
• 45 hours of personal days
• Flexible Schedule for a good work-life balance.
• Continuous training and professional growth opportunities.

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s People Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.

Equal treatment and equal opportunities are guaranteed for all candidates in the selection process, avoiding stereotypes, bias or barriers linked to gender, sexual orientation, origin, age, ideology, or any other potentially discriminatory condition. The organization also ensures inclusion commitment toward vulnerable groups, and the first round of the selection process is reserved for candidates with functional diversity.

Timings in the Recruitment Process

Curricular assessment: The candidate’s qualifications and merits will be evaluated according to the criteria established in the job offer.

Interview(s): These will be conducted by a Selection Committee to assess the candidate’s suitability in terms of professional experience and competencies.

Additional tests (if applicable): Depending on the position profile and the needs of the process, specific competency-based tests and/or a psychometric test may be included in order to more accurately assess the suitability of the candidates.

Start of contract: December 2026 (approximately)