PhD Student

Job description

The research groups of Prof. Steven Maenhout (Dept. Plant & Crop) and Prof. Steven Sleutel (Dept. Environment) are looking for a highly motivated student to start a PhD research journey to unravel the various ecosystem services that are provided by leguminous crops in European farming systems.

The PhD position is embedded into the 4-year EU-Horizon project named “LEGENDARY” that is coordinated by Ghent University from 2024 till 2028. In this pan-European endeavor, several Belgian research groups and 20 international partners will investigate the agronomic benefits and ecosystem services provided by various major and minor leguminous crops. To this end, extensive multi-environment field experiments will be established at the Ghent University experimental farm and various partner sites in Europe. The envisioned research is of high societal and environmental interest in that the routine integration of these legumes in European crop rotations can partly offset the need for external nitrogen input with inevitable downstream environmental burden, as well as improve the soil greenhouse gas balance, combat pest and disease proliferation and protect soil against structural degradation and erosion.

This PhD research project has four main objectives:
1) Assessment of the atmospheric N-fixation by the leguminous crops and N provision to the following crop. We will employ a 15N-based approach to accurately quantify these processes in the Belgian, Spanish and Greek field experiments.
2) Assessment of the crop to soil C transfer and stability of derived soil organic carbon to assess the C-storage potential of various leguminous crops. We will use within field crop 13CO2-pulse labelling to in situ measure plant C-rhizodeposition and infer stability thereof by repeated sampling over time (Belgium & Greece).
3) Numeric quantification of the agronomic value and provided ecosystem services of leguminous crops: we will assess impacts on field greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emissions, soil structure, erosion, weeds and pests and soil moisture balances.
4) Development and validation of sensor-based methods for the quantification of the agronomic value and ecosystem services provided by leguminous crops relying on satellite and UAV imaging and reads from various proximal sensing tools including weather stations, insect monitoring systems and soil sensors.

The successful PhD candidate will be conducting and communicating high-quality research through publications and presentations, both within the research team and to external audiences. Beyond these research responsibilities, the selected candidate will take on supplementary roles, including guest lectures and conducting seminars for students (partial requirements accounted for receiving a PhD degree).

Job profile

• You hold a Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering or Bioscience Engineering Technology. The degree requirements need to be met at the date of appointment
• You have a keen interest in scientific research related to soil and/or plants
• You have good communication skills with a solid knowledge of the English language, both spoken and written
• You are a creative and committed person with a healthy work ethic and a positive attitude

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 March 1, 2024 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 the Department of Personnel and Organization 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 (in Dutch).

How to apply

Send your CV, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to steven.maenhout@ugent.be.