Postdoctorand for EU project “Deep Horizon”

Postdoctorand for EU project “Deep Horizon”

80% / 8046 Zürich

good food, healthy environment

The ‘Soil Quality and Soil Use’ Research Group deals with the influence of agricultural management on soil quality. Soil structure, its role in the soil system and its functionality are an important focus. The development of soil-quality indicators and their use in long-term soil monitoring is a further priority.

The well-being of Europe’s soil is under threat. This is knwon from extensive research conducted on topsoils. However, subsoils remain largely unexplored. DeepHorizon seeks to unveil the present condition of subsoils through collaborative efforts of 20 international project partners. This postdoc position contributes by elucidating forms and functions of 3-D subsoil macropore networks.

Your tasks

• Collect undisturbed soil cores from the subsoil at sites across Europe
• Acquire and quantitativley analyze three-dimensional X-ray scans of undisturbed subsoil samples
• Link macropore network properties to chemical, biological and other physical soil properties
• Relate morphological macropore network properties to soil functions
• Help implementing macropore network properties and functions into holistic soil modelling platform

Your profile

• Highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with strong background in soil system sciences
• Ability and willingness to travel and to conduct manual labor, ability to work in a multinational team
• Ability to acquire X-ray image analyses skills; experience in image analyses is favoured
• Demonstrated good skills in R or Python or equivalent; ability to process large amounts of data
• Knowledge of two official Swiss languages and a very good command of written and spoken English

Additional information

If this challenge appeals to you, we look forward to receiving your online application (English is not an official Swiss language, please choose German, French or Italian as correspondence language).

For further information, please contact Mr. Johannes Köstel, Projectleader, Tel. +41 58 485 60 78.

Start date: November 1, 2024 or to be agreed. This is a fixed-term job finishing on October 31, 2026

Reference number: JRQ$540-11668

About Us

The ‘Agroecology and Environment’ Research Division investigates the effects of agriculture on the environmental dimensions of climate, air, soil, biodiversity, nutrient cycles and water. Based on the principles of agroecology and using real-world data, we develop solutions for a sustainable agricultural sector. The interconnectedness of the disciplines is essential here for identifying synergies and trade-offs.”

Agroscope is the Swiss federal centre of excellence for research in the agriculture and food sector. Its researchers work at a number of sites in Switzerland. Headquartered in Bern-Liebefeld (as of 2026: Posieux), Agroscope is attached to the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER.

We offer you a varied job in an interesting work environment as well as thorough training. Flexible working hours and good employee benefits are additional perks of the job.

The Federal Administration is attentive to the different needs and backgrounds of its employees and promotes diversity. Equal treatment is a top priority.