Marcel van der Heijden

Agroscope is advertising a PhD position in Agroecology for field-crop production within the SUSTAGRI project, an interdisciplinary study on how to reduce herbicide use and soil tillage for more sustainable agriculture. The project examines agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic impacts of alternative farming practices. The PhD student will work on a long-term field trial and contribute to field samplings, laboratory analyses, and data treatment. Research topics include plant yield , weed abundance , soil microbiome , soil parameters , and the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon after reduced tillage and herbicide application. Results are expected to be disseminated through scientific publications, technical reports, and conference presentations. The position is based at Agroscope in Nyon, Switzerland , near Geneva and Lausanne, and the PhD candidate will also be enrolled in the EDCE doctoral program at EPFL . The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and runs for four years. The post is part of a broader collaboration involving Agroscope, EPFL, University of Lausanne, University of Zurich, Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of Basilicata, and INRAE. Eligibility highlights include a Master's degree in environmental sciences, agricultural science, biology, or a related discipline; strong interest in agroecology , sustainable agriculture , soil science , and plant ecology ; and useful experience in data analysis and laboratory work. Applicants should be able to work independently in a multidisciplinary and international team, communicate well, and have knowledge of two official Swiss languages plus English. The vacancy is for a temporary PhD appointment starting 2026-10-01 . Interested candidates should apply via the official Agroscope vacancy page and ensure they meet the doctoral school admission criteria at EPFL.