Job description

Each year a substantial amount of food loss is recorded at the primary production stage, which contributes to food insecurity and causes environmental issues as additional pressure on water and land use and GHG emissions. The EU-project FOLOU in which you will participate has as general goal to overcome the challenges to food loss at farm level (e.g. common measurement methodology, identify the mean drivers of food loss, …). FOLOU is coordinated by Fundacio universitaria Balmes and involves teams in 14 different countries (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101084106).
In the framework of FOLOU, the departments Plants and Crops and of Green Chemistry and Technology of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, UGent, have a vacancy for a PhD student. Your research work will focus on:

• Identifying the mean drivers of food losses with the focus on potato.
• Performing experimental research at both lab and field scale
• The development, testing and validation of remote sensing tools (UAV & satellites) for food loss estimation in potato.
• Networking with international partners: The research of the PhD fits in a broader EU setting in frame of the FOLOU project which implies interaction with other researchers within the consortium. Moreover – the UGENT groups involved have a broader activity both on crop optimization (Dept. Plants & Crops) and circular economy / end-of-waste (Dept. Green Chemistry & Technology)
  
  

We offer an opportunity to do cutting edge science in supporting and collaborative teams. The applicant will access to state-of-the art tools and facilities. The offered PhD position will be jointly supervised by Prof. G. Haesaert, Prof. E. Meers and Prof. W. Maes
This is a fully-funded position; the position is for an initial 1-year term with the possibility after of extension for up to 4-years assuming satisfactory performance.

Job profile

We are looking for a highly motivated applicant with an MSc degree in Bioscience Engineering or biosciences: agricultural sciences, biotechnology or food technology with a strong interest in agricultural and food production systems. Experience and affinity with crop production, remote sensing, data mining and statistical programming is recommended. Proficiency in English, both written and oral, is required.

How to apply

Submit your application (including your CV and motivation letter) by email to prof. Geert Haesaert (geert.haesaert@ugent.be) before 31/01/2022