ASARI - Postdoctoral Position in Desert and Arid Land Agriculture

About UM6P:

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented institution of higher education. Its educational system is based on the highest standards of teaching and research in fields related to the sustainable economic development of Morocco and Africa. With an innovative approach, UM6P places research and innovation at the heart of its educational project as a driving force of a business model. It focuses on applied research and innovation both in Morocco and Africa.

The university is a platform for experimentation and a pool of opportunities, for students, professors, and staff. It offers a high-quality living and study environment thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure.

About Entity (ASARI):

The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) is a component of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). It is located in Laayoune City, in south of Morocco. Its vision is targeting real, local, regional, and African challenges in the fields of agricultural in dry lands and marginal environments, animal value chain, water and energy sustainability, biorefinery and bioenergy, cultivation and conversion of micro and macroalgae, and geology and mining.

Oriented towards Africa, ASARI acts in connection with a wide network of universities and research centers around the continent in order to link real field issues with up-to-date science. The institute has attracted multidisciplinary research teams composed of food engineers, agronomists, biochemists, biologists, … etc.

Description of the position:

• Develop and improve the best cropping practices under marginal and arid conditions
• Test, introduce and upscale new and alternative resilient crops
• Field preparation and establishment of field trials
• Conduct controlled trials under greenhouse conditions testing crop responses to different investigated factors (stresses, amendment, photoperiod, etc.)
• Develop and deliver training modules to farmer’s, cooperatives, extension agents, etc.
• Data scheduling, collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.
• Supervise Postdoc, PhD and Master students as well as interns
• Project management including budget, materials, equipment, and staff
• Research proposal writing for external funding
• Report writing for research project
• Manuscript writing and publication in referee journal.

The candidate will also be expected to help maintain all field and laboratory equipment, order supplies as needed, and help maintain research plot records and. Responsibilities also involve frequent travelling to different experimental platforms and farmer’s fields at national and international level

Education

• Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, agronomy, crop science, plant science, or a closely related field

Requirement

• At least 5 years of field based agricultural research experience is essential
• Expertise in of one of the following areas (please indicate in covering letter):
  • Marginal and desert environments
  • Salinity management
  • Crop and soil modelling
  • Crop production
  • Knowledge and skills in organization, time management,
  • Statistical software and data analysis
• Good publications record in refereed journals
• Fluency in written and spoken English. French and Arabic will be a plus
• Experience in working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to initiate, conduct, and publish research in a scientific manner and to obtain external grant funding
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of statistics and database management
• Additional language skills, Arabic and French are desirable
• Supervisory experience