Postdoctoral Researcher in Phenotyping of Crop Mixtures

Postdoc Position in Phenotyping of Crop Mixtures (PhenoMix Project)

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

This postdoctoral position is part of the PhenoMix project: Multidimensional field phenotyping of crop mixtures, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. This role is hosted by the Crop Science group, a vibrant and interdisciplinary working group within the Institute of Agricultural Sciences at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich. Our group's phenotyping research focuses on developing methods and models to determine traits of relevance for crop breeding and variety testing.

Project Background

PhenoMix is a collaborative initiative involving four research groups at ETH Zurich, the Swiss Data Science Center, and Agroscope. The overarching goal of PhenoMix is to test the hypothesis that current high-throughput field phenotyping (HTFP) technology, combined with plant physiological assessments and data science, can lead to a breakthrough in determining genotypes that can be successfully combined in agroecologically beneficial legume-cereal mixtures. Various varieties of peas, lentils, wheat, oats, and barley will be cultivated under our field phenotyping platform (FIP), on a neighboring experimental field, and on farmers' fields. PhenoMix work packages encompass phenotyping, plant ecophysiology, data science, and agro-economic assessments, with four doctoral students, two postdocs, and several technicians assigned to these work packages. The postdoc position for Phenotyping of Crop Mixtures will coordinate several overarching activities in the PhenoMix project and will contribute to collecting HTFP data, improving phenotyping workflows, and developing a field robot for lean phenotyping.

Job Description

This postdoctoral role is a critical component of the entire project, with specific tasks depending on skills, interests, and alignment with at least one other postdoctoral position in data science and a doctoral student in crop phenotyping within the Crop Science group.

Overall tasks for this project include:

• Co-designing and coordinating field experiments and work plans for HTFP data collection.
• Contributing to fieldwork and the collection of HTFP data from various phenotyping devices such as the FIP (multi-view RGB imaging), drones, and handheld/manual devices.
• Contributing to the design and/or establishment of a phenotyping robot that can acquire data from RGB cameras and potentially other sensors.
• Generating modeling approaches to predict optimal cereal-legume combinations.
• Supervising and mentoring students from Bachelor's to PhD-level.
• Assisting in delivering lectures or seminars for the Crop Science group.
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at national and international conferences.
• Contributing to international research networks and pursuing funding opportunities.

The initial contract duration is two years with the possibility of extension for the full duration of this four-year project, contingent on satisfactory performance. Salary and social benefits will align with ETH Zurich regulations.

Profile

• A PhD in agricultural sciences or a related field.
• Several years of research experience in field crop phenotyping.
• Good statistical and programming skills (e.g., in R or Python).
• Evidence of research excellence through peer-reviewed publications.
• A strong desire for teaching, mentoring, teamwork, and team coordination.
• Driver's license.
• Good oral communication skills in German are highly beneficial.

Workplace

Join a collaborative and innovative environment at ETH Zurich, which champions your professional development while contributing to positive societal change.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

In alignment with our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. For more details, visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website. Sustainability is a core value for us; we are committed to working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information about the Crop Science group and the PhenoMix project, please visit their respective websites. For inquiries regarding this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Achim Walter at achim.walter@usys.ethz.ch.

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge research, and direct transfer of new knowledge into society, we welcome over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries. Located in the heart of Europe while fostering connections globally, we work together to develop solutions for today's and tomorrow's global challenges.