Entity: The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI)
About UM6P:
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is an internationally oriented institution of higher learning, that is committed to an educational system based on the highest standards of teaching and research in fields related to the sustainable economic development of Morocco and Africa. UM6P is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation. With specific focus on Africa, UM6P aims to position these fields as the forefront and become a university of international standing.
More than just a traditional academic institution, UM6P 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. With an innovative approach, UM6P places research and innovation at the heart of its educational project as a driving force of a business model.
About Entity (Hiring entity):
The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) is a component of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). It is located in Laayoune City and constitutes a structure of practical based research with a vision of solving real Local, Regional, and African agriculture challenges leveraging up-to-date science and technology.
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 consists of a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, biochemists, molecular biologists, bioprocess specialists, animal scientist, etc to respond to regional challenges affecting marginal environments. ASARI is composed of three main research programs:
- AgriBioTechnology program leverages up to date technologies in the service of the Southern Moroccan and Sub-Saharan agriculture challenges. Its ambition is to conduct relevant and cutting-edge research on plant/crop improvement, biosaline agriculture, valorization of local agricultural and marine resources, and animal nutrition and reproduction with a positive impact on the African agriculture.
- Water treatment and management program which is oriented towards the development of cost-effective desalinization processes for agriculture use and water treatment, management, and analysis.
- Renewable energy program that is aiming to develop new approaches for the production of clean energy to address real local and regional challenges.
Description of the position:
The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) at the satellite of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Laayoune is seeking applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research position in the field of Agronomy and Plant Physiology.
The appointed candidate will work independently and within a research team to develop an understanding of the agronomic and physiological responses of various crops to abiotic stress. Specifically, the successful candidate is expected to assess leaf gas-exchange under drought, salinity, and high vapor pressure deficit (VPD). In addition, the postdoctoral fellow will collaborate actively with other researchers of UM6P to develop plant biostimulants and test their impact on plant growth and physiology.
The major responsibilities of the successful candidate will be:
- Design and carry out laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials to investigate the responses of crops to drought, salinity, and high VPD
- Identify plant traits to improve crop tolerance to abiotic stress in dry-desertic areas
- Develop a systematic approach to generate and characterize plant biostimulants, and test their effectiveness on crop growth and physiology
- Collect and analyse agronomic and physiological data and submit papers for publication in well-ranked journals.
- Mentor and guide graduate students and assist in organizing workshops and conferences.
Education
A Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Physiology, or related field.
Requirement
- Research experience conducting field and greenhouse trials on plant responses to abiotic stress is required
- Demonstrated experience in testing the effects of biostimulants on plant growth and physiology
- Ability to develop predictive models to identify and investigate the impact of bioactive ingredients as biostimulants is a plus
- Ability to interact and collaborate with the interdisciplinary research teams and labs across the university
- Demonstrated publication record in well-ranked journals
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
