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PhD in Wheat Agronomy and Breeding IRTA in Spain
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
4-year contract with salary of 23,322.09 EUR gross/year for years 1-3 and 26,325.47 EUR gross/year for year 4. The doctoral grant provides up to 7,000 EUR additional funding for research stays of at least one month at other R&D centres and covers tuition fees for the four years of the PhD programme.
Deadline
Sep 15, 2026
Country
Spain
University
IRTA
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About this position
PhD opportunity in wheat agronomy and breeding at IRTA, Lleida, Spain. The Sustainable Field Crops Program at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), under the Government of Catalonia, is recruiting a PhD candidate for the REWHEAT project.
The project focuses on developing climate-resilient, high-yielding wheat with stable and superior grain and gluten quality. The research combines Mediterranean landrace diversity, advanced breeding, predictive modelling, and optimized agronomic management. The successful candidate will work on introducing key quality and adaptation traits into elite wheat, forecasting grain quality and yield from genetic, phenological, soil, and climate data, and designing nitrogen and irrigation strategies that maintain quality under warmer and more variable conditions while reducing resource use and environmental impact.
Research activities include: characterizing and selecting Mediterranean wheat landraces and breeding lines; developing MAGIC and backcross populations; conducting field, greenhouse, and laboratory trials; assessing grain yield, protein content, gluten quality, and stability across environments; integrating genetic and agronomic datasets; and communicating results through publications, reports, and presentations.
Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in plant breeding, genetics, agronomy, crop science, plant biology, or a closely related field; experience with cereal crop experiments, preferably wheat; knowledge of plant breeding, quantitative genetics, crop physiology, or grain-quality assessment; and data analysis skills in R, Python, or similar tools. Applicants must not already hold a PhD. Good English is required, while Catalan and Spanish are valued.
Funding and conditions: the position is a 4-year contract with a gross salary of 23,322.09 EUR per year for the first three years and 26,325.47 EUR in the fourth year. The doctoral grant also provides up to 7,000 EUR for research stays and covers tuition fees for the four years of the PhD programme. The role is based in Lleida (Catalonia, Spain), with a full-time schedule, remote work options, and professional development opportunities.
Deadline: send your CV and motivation letter by 2026-09-15.
Funding details
4-year contract with salary of 23,322.09 EUR gross/year for years 1-3 and 26,325.47 EUR gross/year for year 4. The doctoral grant provides up to 7,000 EUR additional funding for research stays of at least one month at other R&D centres and covers tuition fees for the four years of the PhD programme.
What's required
Master’s degree in plant breeding, genetics, agronomy, crop science, plant biology, or a closely related field; experience in field, greenhouse, or laboratory experiments involving cereal crops, preferably wheat; knowledge of plant breeding, quantitative genetics, crop physiology, or grain-quality assessment; experience with data analysis using R, Python, or equivalent tools; ability to collect, manage, and interpret genetic, phenotypic, environmental, and agronomic data; strong organizational, analytical, and scientific writing skills; ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary, international team; good written and spoken English; applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Catalan and Spanish are valued.
How to apply
Send your CV and motivation letter through the application portal. Complete the required applicant fields and upload the requested documents before the deadline.
More information can be found here
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