PhD Biocraft Project

Offer Description

Crop productivity and nutritional quality are constrained by intensifying multifactorial abiotic and biotic stresses, which conventional breeding and single-trait biotechnological approaches can no longer address effectively. Climate change, soil degradation, resource depletion, and geopolitical instability underscore the urgent need to enhance crop productivity and reinforce the EU’s independence and resilience in food, feed and fiber production. BIOCRAFT will tackle these intertwined challenges by pioneering disruptive biotechnological solutions that deliver new climate-resilient, high-yielding and nutritionally enhanced crops, while enabling the innovative plant-based production of non-native highvalue biomolecules (e.g., growth factors for biomedical and food applications). We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to generate multiplex genome edited (GE) rice plants tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The successful candidate will primarily contribute to research on plant–fungal interactions, with a focus on assessing the tolerance of genome-edited rice lines to Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease. Prior hands-on experience with rice and/or Magnaporthe oryzae is advantageous but not essential. The doctoral candidate will be mentored by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Agrotecnio and partner institutions with expertise in GE rice plants, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven high-throughput phenotyping and multi-omic analytics and soil microbiome monitoring. The PhD project is embedded within the BIOCRAFT project. This synergistic combination of multiplex GE, predictive AI and real-time phenotyping will shorten breeding cycles and enhance the accuracy of selection. The PhD candidate will conduct laboratory experiments, perform data analysis using advanced statistical methods, prepare scientific manuscripts, and participate in broader project activities such as synthesis, dissemination, and co-creation workshops. Active participation in BIOCRAFT project meetings and close collaboration with the international project network is expected.

Where to apply

E-mail: administration@agrotecnio.udl.cat

Requirements

• Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
• Skills/Qualifications: MSc degree in a relevant subject (biotechnology, biology, agriculture, chemistry, environmental sciences or related fields). Experience with molecular biology techniques. Skills in collecting and analyzing data and writing reports. Excellent written and spoken English.
• Specific Requirements: Relevant experience and training in molecular biology. Some experience conducting rice fieldwork. Familiarity with GE techniques. We are looking for a candidate with strong scientific curiosity, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an international, interdisciplinary environment. Time management, problem-solving ability, and clear communication—both written and verbal—are essential. A passion for research that bridges science and real-world impact is highly valued.
• Languages: ENGLISH: Excellent; SPANISH: Basic; CATALAN
• Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering
• Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4

Additional Information

Benefits

The annual gross salary 24.000 €. The position includes full social security and health coverage, and entitlements to paid holidays and leave according to national labor regulations.

Eligibility criteria

Ensuring open, transparent and merit-based recruitment processes (OTM-R) is one of the main objectives at Agrotecnio. In order to comply with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, Agrotecnio has developed its OTM-R Policy, which guarantees equal opportunities for candidates and that the research staff recruited meet the conditions required for the position. Agrotecnio has developed a Recruiting Policy based on the principles of the OTM-R

Selection process

Interested candidates should submit the following documents in English, combined into a single pdf file, to: administration@agrotecnio.udl.cat

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) describing your motivation and fit for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (including graduation dates and relevant experience)
• Contact information for two professional references (name, relation to candidate, email, and phone number). No letters needed at this stage
• A copy or link to your Master’s thesis
• List of publications (if any), including reports, scientific articles, popular science, etc.
• Degree certificates

Online interviews will be conducted with shortlisted candidates.

Additional comments

If you require further information on matters relating to the call, please contact: ludovic.bassie@udl.cat

Website for additional job details: https://agrotecnio.org/treballa-amb-nosaltres/

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Fundacio Centre de Recerca en Agrotecnologia
• Country: Spain
• State/Province: Lleida
• City: Lleida
• Postal Code: 25198
• Street: Avinguda Alcalde Rovira Roure 191

Contact

• State/Province: Lleida
• City: Lleida
• Website: http://www.agrotecnio.org/
• Street: Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191
• Postal Code: 25198
• E-Mail: administration@agrotecnio.udl.cat
• Phone: 973702312