Research Fellow in Plant-Soil Modelling

Role Description

We welcome applications from passionate, skilled, committed prospective plant and soil modellers to contribute to a multi-partner international project ‘Climate-resilient crops with improved phosphorous efficiency through beneficial fungal interactions’.

About the Role

In many parts of the world, excessive use of phosphorous (P) fertilisers in agricultural soil has led to large-scale contamination of the environment. On the other hand, in other areas, P-deficient soils and poor access to fertilisers present a major constraint to crop production. Warmer, drier conditions resulting from climate change will exacerbate these problems, as low soil moisture reduces plant-availability of P. In natural systems, most plants rely on root symbioses with mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi for efficient P uptake. These interactions remain active in major crop species. However, the delicate balance between plant and fungal partner is far from optimised for both intensive and less intensive agricultural systems.

In the project to which this role will contribute, we will characterise plant genetic mechanisms that coordinate the interaction of mycorrhizal fungi with plant P and water status, the development of the root system, and the broader community of soil microbes. With partners at Cambridge University, and in Germany and the US, we will work from the scale of the single gene to field evaluation to define a framework for rational optimisation of plant-mycorrhizal symbioses for more efficient P use in agriculture. The modelling component will involve combining existing models of root system growth, rhizosphere processes and P uptake developed by the project partners and developing new models of the effects and costs of mycorrhizal symbioses.

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level in a relevant subject and have experience of research in plant and soil science, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. You will have some experience in mathematical modelling and basic-level programming, but our main requirement is for someone who will understand the plant and soil science behind the project and be able to translate that into models using the results of the experimental working. You will have excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Environmental Sustainability Theme combines research groups with more than 50 years of experience in the challenges of sustainability, natural capital management and future food systems. It includes the Centre for Soil, Agrifood and Biosciences, which has expertise in soil, plant and microbial systems across scales, with the Cranfield Environment Centre, which has expertise in environmental informatics and modelling and is the UK National Reference Centre for soil.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                           

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Professor Guy Kirk, Professor of Soil Systems, on (E): g.kirk@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on E: peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 5271.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   10 May 2026

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.