The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg, Germany has opened a position for a Post-doc Researcher for process-based crop modelling and remote sensing in the context of an international demonstrator project on malting barley protein management through simulation-guided nitrogen top dressing, beginning 1 November 2017.

ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and, with its 350 employees, one of the largest research institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. It is our mission to scientifically explain causal relationships in agricultural landscapes and to provide society with sound information for the sustainable use of agricultural landscapes through excellent research. ZALF strongly focusses on interdisciplinary collaboration.

The position

The position aims at strengthening ZALF’s expertise on integrated crop systems analysis and modelling at multiple scales ranging from the plot/field to the landscape, regional and global scale.

Primary research focus is on the landscape scale considering biophysical processes and human interaction at crop and grassland system level. Key applications of model development focus on food security, sustainable intensification and climate change. The research work is embedded in larger international research networks and contributes to their progress at various levels.

Task areas

The candidate is expected to improve and apply a process-based crop growth model for simulations of barley biomass growth and phenological development in simulations to inform farmers on the protein content development in the grain filling period. Emphasis is on the assimilation of remote sensing data in the simulations towards the development of a decision support system.

The task area includes the following foci:

• Data collection and model set-up for malting barley representation
• Model development, parametrisation and validation with respect to protein dynamics
• Assimilation of high-frequency time series of multi-spectral optical remote sensing data into the simulation model
• Simulation of barley yields and qualities for Germany and selected regions across Europe, using a grid-based ensemble of simulation models on a multi-core computer cluster
• Analysis of scaling effects of 1D simulations to larger scales
• Synthesis of modelling results in scientific publications and oral presentations at project and network meetings and conferences
• Support the research group through PhD student supervision and fund raising

Ground-truthing field work on experimental plots may be necessary.

Your profile

Applicants should

1. hold a PhD in Agronomy, Geo-ecology, Environmental Science or related area, with focus on simulation modelling, remote sensing and crop production,
2. prove strong interest in big data,
3. be fluent in English (oral and written),
4. show a significant record of peer-reviewed scientific publications.

The applicant will be provided a stimulating environment to advance in scientific career according to the ZALF qualification support standards.

Information and Applications

For further information and applications download the pdf-document below.