MSCA – Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021 - Environmental and Life Sciences

Host and research group description

Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (UPWr) - located in a modern, vigorously growing city, well communicated with the rest of Europe - is one of the best specialized research universities in Poland. UPWr was ranked 12. among all Polish universities in the Excellence Initiative – Research University, competition in 2019. Leading Research Groups (LRGs) are at the core of our research activity.

Innovative Agriculture and Horticulture (InROg) research group at UPWr welcomes expressions of interest from young researchers (PhD holders) to apply jointly to the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2021 (MSCA-PF-2021).

InROg Leading Research Group concentrates on the global change effect on the agriculture and rural environment, searching for sustainable agriculture methods in the novel environment.

We are looking for researchers interested in research project analyzing the effect of global change (climate, socio-economic and biological invasion) on functioning and ecosystem services provided by grasslands. In the face of global changes it is necessary to adapt the grasslands management to the new realities. Particularly in livestock production, the quality of products and environmental responsibility is nowadays attributed to the livestock keeping methods as well as fodder quality. Pasturage of animals on extensively used, species-rich pastures is in a line with the principles of sustainable development and care on the natural environment, but new rules should be developed taking into account the climate and economic changes. Most of the research will be conducted in the Experimental Station in Radomierz, Poland with 150 ha of extensively used mountain pastures and 100 ha of meadows and arable lands, where Charolaise cattle are bred. In the Experimental Station a fodder productivity models and optimal methods of farming will be tested. The project include also examination grassland plant species introduction for improvement the quality of fodder and increase the biodiversity of the area, as well as to determine the effect of reduced and irregular rainfall on the species composition of pasture sward in various habitat conditions.

Applicants should have previous experience in the field of agriculture and/or plant ecology.

Eligibility (*):

• The postdoctoral fellows must hold a doctoral degree (no longer than 8 years prior 15. September 2021 - the call deadline).

• Periods of inactivity in research (e.g. periods of employment outside research, parental or sick leave) do not count towards the time of research experience.

• The postdoctoral fellow may be of any nationality. No age restrictions apply.

• The postdoctoral fellow cannot have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Poland for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the call deadline.

Pre-application procedure:

Interested applicants are invited to send the expression of interest consisting of:

• a one-page cover letter outlining research area, project idea and how he/she could contribute to the research profile of our Innovative agriculture and horticulture group

• a CV (including a publication list)

Please send the expression of interest by 30th May 2021 to leader of research group: andrzej.kotecki@upwe.edu.pl or project leader: magdalena.szymura@upwr.edu.pl

If you have any administrative questions, please contact the International Research Office at UPWr: international.research@upwr.edu.pl

Successful applicants will develop his/her MSCA-PF proposal with an experienced supervisor. Proposal writing workshop is also planned for the second part of June 2021. Additionally, individual consultations and review of the MSCA-PF proposal will be offered.