Researcher in modelling of Soil-Plant-Atmosphere

We are currently seeking a Researcher in modelling of Soil-Plant-Atmosphere (SPAC) Water to join our Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture Program team located in Lleida (Fruitcentre) , offering a great opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment within our organization.

The researcher will lead and carry out research projects and collaborative contracts, working closely with other team researchers to investigate the biophysical and physiological processes governing water and carbon fluxes between woody crops and the atmosphere, and how these processes ultimately determine growth and yield. This research activity will strengthen and complement ongoing lines on irrigation agronomy and the development of digital tools for efficient water management in tree crops and grapevines.

Head of the Program: Dr. Joaquim Bellvert

Program's key researchers for this position: Dr. Jaume Casadesús and Dr. Víctor Blanco.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To lead a research line focused on the development and application of crop physiological models, with emphasis on water relations, gas exchange, and carbon allocation in woody crops, aiming to advance our understanding of plant responses to water availability, climate variability, and management practices. The expected outcomes include R+D contributions that enhance state-of-the-art modelling approaches supporting efficient irrigation strategies, precision water management, and sustainable agronomic practices at plot and regional scales.
• To contribute to the design, planning, and execution of physiological and eco-physiological experiments, ensuring the integration of high-quality field and laboratory measurements (e.g., plant water status, photosynthesis and respiration, biomass partitioning) into model calibration, validation, and improvement, and supporting the achievement of the research project milestones.
• To support and strengthen the scientific production of the research and innovation activities of the Program through high-quality publications, model developments, datasets, and methodological advancements.
• To lead and actively contribute to fundraising efforts, including the preparation and submission of research proposals to competitive public calls and private-sector collaborations, as well as the preparation of progress and final reports associated with research activities.
• To identify new opportunities for cutting-edge research and innovation in physiological crop modelling, addressing strategic priorities of the Program on Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture and fostering the integration of plant physiology knowledge into crop models, decision-support tools and irrigation technologies.
• To contribute to a collaborative and dynamic team environment, supporting teamwork and cross-disciplinary integration within the Program on Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture.
• To create synergies and promote collaboration with other research programs at IRTA, especially those related to plant physiology, climate adaptation, modelling, and sustainable crop management.

Required qualifications and experience

• PhD on modelling plant water relations, carbon partitioning, gas exchange parameters, and yield formation in horticultural or woody perennial crops, with a strong foundation in crop physiology, eco-physiology, and process-based plant modelling.
• Proven experience in the application, calibration, and evaluation of crop models for woody crops, including the use of either already existing (e.g., APSIM, CropSyst, or similar) or new mechanistic models describing soil–plant–atmosphere water fluxes, carbon allocation, phenology, and long‑term biomass dynamics in perennial species.
• Proven scientific output in the field of physiological crop modelling—such as peer‑reviewed publications, model developments, methodological papers, or datasets—specifically addressing water use, carbon balance, or productivity in woody crops under varying irrigation and climate scenarios.
• Experience in applied research involving the integration of modelling with experimental data from field or controlled‑environment trials, ideally in orchards or perennial horticultural systems, including model‑driven evaluation of irrigation strategies, stress responses, or productivity outcomes.
• Preparation and writing of competitive research proposals.
• Comprehensive literature review and synthesis on crop modelling and crop physiology.
• Design and implementation of experiments aimed at parameterizing and validating crop models (e.g., measurements of plant water status, gas exchange, biomass accumulation, and partitioning).
• Advanced data analysis skills, including handling physiological, environmental, and model output datasets.
• Writing of hi