Postdoctoral Research Fellow Positions in Plant Acoustics (Acoustics, Modelling, and Biology) at the University of Southampton University of Southampton in United Kingdom

University of Southampton is recruiting three Post-Doc Research Fellow / Research Associate positions in Plant Acoustics, spanning acoustics, mathematical modelling, and plant biology. This is a highly interdisciplinary project involving the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the School of Biological Sciences, and Mechanical Engineering.

The project investigates how plants generate and respond to sound, including possible links to stress responses, root function, soil-plant transmission, and pollination. The team aims to combine controlled experiments, advanced measurement, signal analysis, and multiphysics modelling to build credible mechanisms and open datasets for the emerging field of plant acoustics.

Open roles: (1) an acoustics-focused postdoctoral role to lead acoustic measurement, vibroacoustic analysis, signal processing, and experimental design; (2) a modelling-focused postdoctoral role to develop image-informed, multiscale, multiphysics models of acoustic emission and reception in plants; and (3) a biology-focused postdoctoral role to lead controlled plant growth, physiology, root/rhizosphere, microbiome, and pollination experiments.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have a PhD (or be near completion) or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline. The acoustics role seeks expertise in experimental acoustics, instrumentation, Python/MATLAB, and reproducible data workflows. The modelling role seeks strong computational modelling, FEM/multiphysics, scientific programming, and multiscale analysis. The biology role seeks plant biology/physiology or microbiology experience, controlled environment experiments, root and microbiome work, and quantitative analysis skills.

Funding and start date: these are paid research positions at the University of Southampton; the post does not describe a scholarship or tuition package. The project is aiming to start from June 2026 by agreement.

Application: use the University of Southampton jobs portal and apply to the relevant vacancy. Informal enquiries can be sent to Michal Kalkowski at [email protected]; the biology role also lists Dr. William King at [email protected].