Postdoc in Using 13C for field phenotyping aimed at breeding for drought resilience
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Postdoc in Using 13C for field phenotyping aimed at breeding for drought resilience
The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a 2-year Postdoc position in Using 13C for field phenotyping aimed at breeding for drought resilience commencing 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job description
The postdoc will be working on a newly funded project on using natural d13C isotope enrichment for field phenotyping of crops in cooperation with plant breeders. The natural enrichment of 13C in plant material is affected by stomatal closure, and therefore by the level of drought stress in crops. Comparing genotypes of major field crops, we have found d13C to be correlated to deep rooting among crop genotypes, as genotypes with deep rooting can access more soil water, and thereby get less drought stressed. Measuring d13C is much less demanding than measuring deep rooting directly, leading to the hypothesis that d13C can be used as a proxy for field scale phenotyping for deep rooting, allowing breeding towards efficient use of soil water and drought stress resilience. The studies in the project will include different crops, mainly winter wheat and perennial ryegrass. The project will work in two main directions: 1) further study of the method, to understand how the 13C signal develops and is distributed in the plant, and how sampling can be optimized to show such effects, even during rather short dry periods, typical of temperate climates, and 2) using d13C measurements in established genotype trials at different locations, to study genotypic differences in water stress and its links to yield and other measured traits of the genotypes.
The postdoc will work together with a PhD student on the project.
Description of the scientific environment
The postdoc will be hosted in the Crop Physiology and Production Systems research group, which focuses on plant growth and quality at the crop, crop rotation, and cropping system level. We work with the development of plants for food, feed, and biomass production. More information about the research group is available at: https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/crop_sciences/cpps/.
Required qualifications
The applicants should hold professional and personal skills and qualifications as stated below:
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include
The deadline for applications is 4 January 2026, 23:59 GMT +1. Interviews are expected to be held in week 4.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Job description
The postdoc will be working on a newly funded project on using natural d13C isotope enrichment for field phenotyping of crops in cooperation with plant breeders. The natural enrichment of 13C in plant material is affected by stomatal closure, and therefore by the level of drought stress in crops. Comparing genotypes of major field crops, we have found d13C to be correlated to deep rooting among crop genotypes, as genotypes with deep rooting can access more soil water, and thereby get less drought stressed. Measuring d13C is much less demanding than measuring deep rooting directly, leading to the hypothesis that d13C can be used as a proxy for field scale phenotyping for deep rooting, allowing breeding towards efficient use of soil water and drought stress resilience. The studies in the project will include different crops, mainly winter wheat and perennial ryegrass. The project will work in two main directions: 1) further study of the method, to understand how the 13C signal develops and is distributed in the plant, and how sampling can be optimized to show such effects, even during rather short dry periods, typical of temperate climates, and 2) using d13C measurements in established genotype trials at different locations, to study genotypic differences in water stress and its links to yield and other measured traits of the genotypes.
The postdoc will work together with a PhD student on the project.
Description of the scientific environment
The postdoc will be hosted in the Crop Physiology and Production Systems research group, which focuses on plant growth and quality at the crop, crop rotation, and cropping system level. We work with the development of plants for food, feed, and biomass production. More information about the research group is available at: https://plen.ku.dk/english/research/crop_sciences/cpps/.
Required qualifications
The applicants should hold professional and personal skills and qualifications as stated below:
- A PhD degree in agricultural science, or related disciplines.
- Solid knowledge of whole plant and crop physiology, including plant and soil water relations.
- Good technical skills and practical experimental experience with field crop experiments, as well as modern plant analysis and monitoring techniques.
- Competent on data management and statistical analysis, etc.
- Good record, considering your early career stage, of peer-reviewed scientific publications
- Good interpersonal skills, experience with collaborative work in larger multinational teams.
- Excellent English writing and speaking abilities
- Professional qualifications relevant to the position
- Scientific publications
- Relevant research experience
- Other professional activities
- Language skills
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include
- Motivation letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
- Complete publication list
- Separate reprints of 3 particularly relevant papers
The deadline for applications is 4 January 2026, 23:59 GMT +1. Interviews are expected to be held in week 4.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.