PhD position - Soil–Plant Interactions Modelling

PhD position - Soil–Plant Interactions Modelling

In the coming decades, climate change and land use change will have a significant impact on the performance of terrestrial ecosystems in terms of their services (food, feed, fiber, energy) and the challenges facing society. At the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences - Agrosphere (IBG-3), we are developing solutions to secure ecosystem services based on an improved understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial systems.

The focus is on agricultural and forestry systems, which are coming under increasing pressure as a result of global change. Innovative observation technologies are combined with laboratory experiments and modeling to research and predict terrestrial processes across scales (from the pore scale to the field scale to the continental scale), thereby contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources such as water, soil, and the atmosphere.

This work will be part of the project "Role of root mucilage in water and phosphorus uptake in semi-arid environment:
Bridging the gap from theories on the pore scale to emergent behaviour at the plant scale (Root Mucilage)" funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). In collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, the University of Tübingen and the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau, the project aims to understand the emergent behaviour of mucilage on the plant scale and in particular for water and phosphorus uptake from soil by contrasting maize genotypes as well as its role in forming a moist microbial rhizosphere habitat.

Your work will build on the process-based soil‑rhizosphere‑plant model, developed at the Agrosphere Institute, which integrates a 3D functional‑structural approach (CPlant

Box) to mechanistically simulate plant growth, plant‑soil interactions and the rhizosphere microbiome. You will contribute to model development and apply it to disentangle the role of root architecture and the release of both mucilage and low molecular weight organic carbon compounds on root water and phosphate uptake. You will work in an interdisciplinary team with researchers from the University partners as well as our partners from ICRISAT, India.

Tasks in detail:

• Extend the existing process‑based model to allow the simultaneous simulation of 3D root architecture development, release of mucilage and low molecular weight organic carbon, as well as their fate and function in soil with respect to water and phosphate uptake by the plant
• Set up virtual representations of the column and lysimeter facilities at ICRISAT, India
• Perform scenario simulations, including pre‑ and postprocessing
• Participation in conferences in Germany and abroad (incl. presenting your research results)
• Exchange with internal and external as well as national and international project partners
• Preparing scientific publications and project reports

• Master’s degree in bioengineering, environmental sciences, soil science or applied mathematics
• Knowledge of plant and soil sciences
• Solid understanding of differential calculus
• Independent and cooperative working in an international, interdisciplinary team across institutes
• Very good communication and organizational skills
• Very good command of the English language (at least B2 level according to the CEFR:  ), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level
• Willingness to travel to India

Please feel free to apply for the position even if you do not have all the required skills and knowledge. We may be able to teach you missing skills during your induction.

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• Competent and interdisciplinary working environment, as well as an excellent framework in the areas of experiments and modelling
• Vibrant international work environment on an attractive research campus, ideally situated between the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen
• Attendance at national and international conferences and workshops
• Possibility for further scientific…