Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. 

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

Within the framework of the four-year interdisciplinary research project “Detection and Remediation of Soil Compaction”, funded among others by the Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) (VLAIO Agricultural Research Programme) and starting on 1 October 2026, you will prepare a PhD dissertation.

Context. Climate change is increasingly leading to periods of extreme drought and intense rainfall. Soil compaction exacerbates the impact of both: it reduces infiltration and water storage during heavy rainfall while decreasing the availability and accessibility of water for crops during drought. Within this project, innovative methods will be developed to accurately map soil compaction at the field scale by integrating remote sensing and proximal sensing. This information is essential for selecting and implementing the most appropriate remediation measures. The project will also evaluate innovative soil management practices to sustainably remediate soil compaction and contribute to climate-resilient agriculture, while taking into account the socio-economic realities of the agricultural sector.

Consortium. The project is carried out by an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Ghent University, Viaverda, and the Belgian Soil Service. In addition, a broad range of stakeholders are actively involved in the project.

Responsibilities

• You will develop and validate innovative methods for mapping soil compaction at the field scale by combining remote sensing, proximal sensing, and field measurements.
• You will develop and optimize machine-learning models for the detection and quantification of soil compaction.
• You will conduct field experiments on arable and horticultural farms and collect, analyze, and interpret soil and crop data.
• You will evaluate innovative techniques for remediating soil compaction under practical farming conditions across different agricultural and horticultural sectors.
• You will translate research findings into user-friendly decision support tools for farmers, growers, and agricultural advisors.
• You will publish your research results in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them at national and international conferences.
• You will actively participate in workshops, project meetings, and consultations with a broad user group comprising representatives from agricultural practice (arable farming, livestock farming, and horticulture), agricultural and sector organizations, government agencies, technology and software companies specializing in sensing technologies, soil advisory and consultancy firms, agricultural machinery manufacturers, and research and knowledge institutions.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master's degree in Bioscience or Agricultural Engineering, Soil Science, Geography, Geology, or a related discipline. You must meet the degree requirements by the date of appointment.
• You have a strong interest in agriculture and horticulture, with a particular affinity for soils.
• You have a basic knowledge of soil physics. Experience with Python, MATLAB, or other computational tools is considered an asset.
• You are willing to undertake a short research stay abroad.
• You are passionate about scientific research and highly motivated to pursue a PhD.
• You are able to work independently while also enjoying collaboration within an international team.
• You have an excellent command of English, both written and spoken.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which, after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on 1 October 2026 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
• You will be based at Campus Coupure of Ghent University, while also having a workplace at Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) in Merelbeke.
• Ghent University is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading universities in agricultural sciences, ranking among the global top institutions in this field (e.g. 9th worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities and 4th in Europe).

INTERESTED?

Please submit your CV, a copy of your master’s diploma (if already in your possession), your academic transcripts, and a motivation letter by Tuesday, 25 August, 11:59 PM (CEST) via email to wim.cornelis@ugent.be, with the subject line "Application PhD DEREBO". We do not accept late applications

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position. 

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Wim Cornelis (wim.cornelis@ugent.be) or Dr. Tommy D'hose (Tommy.Dhose@ilvo.vlaanderen.be).