PhD Candidate in wheat agronomy and breeding

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Testo originale dell'annuncio (in inglese)

We are looking for a PhD candidate to join the Sustainable Field Crops Program team, based in Lleida (Catalonia,Spain). We offer the opportunity to be part of an organization with a dynamic, collaborative work environment focused on professional development. The selected candidate will join the REWHEAT project within a national research project funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI). The REWHEAT project is focused on developing climate-resilient, high-yielding wheat with stable and superior grain and gluten quality. The project will combine Mediterranean landrace diversity, advanced breeding with predictive modelling and optimized agronomic management. The candidate will work on introducing key quality and adaptation traits into elite wheat, forecasting grain quality and yield from genetic, phenological, soil and climate data, and designing nitrogen and irrigation strategies that maintain quality under warmer and more variable conditions while reducing resource use and environmental impact. Key researchers for the position: Dr. Marta da Silva and Dr. Adrian Gracia Romero Tasks and Responsibilities: Characterize and select Mediterranean wheat landraces and breeding lines for gluten quality, yield, climate resilience, and adaptation traits. Develop and manage MAGIC and backcross populations under field and controlled conditions, marker-assisted selection, and allele pyramiding. Conduct and evaluate field, greenhouse, and laboratory trials to assess grain yield, protein content, gluten quality, and stability across environments. Collect and integrate genetic, phenological, soil, crop, climate, and management data to develop predictive models for yield and grain quality. Design and validate nitrogen, fertilization, and irrigation strategies aligned with crop phenology to stabilize quality and improve resource efficiency. Analyse and communicate results through statistical and genomic approaches, scientific publications, reports, presentations, and collaboration with project partners.