We are looking for a passionate and resourceful MSc candidate able to integrate into an organization that is developing innovative products and services to protect crops against pests and diseases.
The work will be done within a multi-disciplinary team comprised of a biologist, agronomist, system administrator, a precision agriculture engineer, and data manager/GIS specialist.
The ideal candidate should be resourceful and self-motivated to liaise with farmers as well as to develop and experiment techniques and methods based on remote and proximity sensors, IoT devices, GIS and AI models to detect, control and monitor pests and diseases on farms.
Main responsibilities
The candidate shall report directly to the Director of the Department of Monitoring and Diagnosis of Pest and Diseases and will have the following responsibilities:
Identify best field sampling techniques and sampling sites. Participate to fieldwork activities using digital devices and sensors to collect data on pests/diseases and those environmental variables that are related to them.;
Quality check the data gathered in the field and prepare them for subsequent geospatial analysis;
Apply knowledge on field attributes data (plants, soil and terrain characteristics, drainage patterns, field management history) to analyse the data to support the implementation of decision support tools for the monitoring and diagnostics of pests/diseases and their integration to field management strategies;
Interact with farmers and producers’ associations to identify problems and possible innovative solutions;
Support the department with few administrative tasks such as preparation of purchase orders and organisation of fieldwork logistics;
Register, interpret and report results accordingly to InPP´s established procedures, both internally and with external stakeholders.
Specific requirements
Master qualification in Geography, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Biology, Agricultural Engineering and similar;
Proven experience in carrying out fieldwork in agricultural and forestry environments as well as understanding of the rural context above all in the interior of Portugal;
Proven experience with pests/diseases identification, field sampling methods, data collection, data manipulation, analysis and visualization (GIS);
Knowledge of relationships between plants, soil quality, terrain, field productivity and weather conditions and how changes in the environment favour the outbreaks of pests/diseases;
Good communication skills and ability to interact with farmers and associations;
Good level of Portuguese and English.
Ideal requirements
Ability to work with GIS and digital devices for data collection/manipulation/visualisation;
Knowledge of statistics for data analysis;
Capable to sustain fieldwork in harsh and remote environment (like the interior of Portugal);
Proactive in interacting with farmers and in proposing practical approaches to detect/monitor pests/diseases in the field;
Organised and focussed;
Passionate to work in agricultural and forestry environment;
Ability to communicate effectively to a non-technical audience;
Self-learner, self-motivated, curious and team worker;
Experience with drone/satellite image analysis is positively assessed.
InnovPlantProtect is a private non-profit association
InnovPlantProtect aims to create innovation for the protection of crops, seeds and post-harvest products through:
Development of innovative technologies and knowledge creation, as well as improvement of existing technologies for crop protection;
Applied scientific research to create novel intellectual property developed technologies in the market, and to develop processes and products;
Provide technical support to public or private companies and entities, assisting them in the introduction of biotechnological strategies, methods and processes, and in the orientation and implementation of industrial research and development, directed towards the protection of crops, seeds and post-harvest products;
Collaboration with (inter)national public and/or private institutions, in their areas of activity.
Workplace
The work location will be at the headquarters of InnovPlantProtect in Elvas, situated in INIAV, at the former National Plant Breeding Station.
Salary and contract
A full-time contract, expected to start on 10th September 2023 will continue until 31st December, 2023 with a trial period of one month. The contract may be renewed annually for a further one year depending on performance and further financial support. All the activities to be developed will be subject to confidentiality clauses. Gross remuneration will depend on experience and range between €1.544,00 (14 months – €21.616,00/year), plus €5,2 for daily lunch subsidy.
Financial Support
This contract is defined and financed by the European Social Fund, of the Alentejo 2020 Operational Programme, thematic domain of Competitiveness and Employment – ALT20-05-3559-FSE-000036, which will end on December 31, 2023.
How to Apply
To the care of the Chief Executive Officer of InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Lab, Professor Pedro Fevereiro (inpp.rh@iplantprotect.pt).
To apply for this position, the following documents should be sent in a single PDF document with the reference “InnovPP035/2023” in the subject:
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Motivation letter
Two reference contacts
Statement of honour that CV content is accurate.
(Please note that Degrees obtained in foreign countries need a Portuguese Recognition issued by a Portuguese high degree Institution, according to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018, of August 16th and the Ministerial Order nr. 33/2019, of January 25th. The presentation of such Recognition is mandatory for contract signature. More information can be obtained in: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition)
Deadlines
This call is open from July 13th to July 31st, 2023, with a decision expected by August 10th.
General rules of data protection (GDPR)
With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 April 2016, commonly known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in order to ensure a fair and transparent treatment of the holder of the data, InnovPlantProtect informs that by applying for this position you are authorizing InnovPlantProtect to (1) collect and process your personal data deemed necessary and relevant to this recruitment process, (2) to disclose the results of the evaluation in accordance with the legislation in force.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Net-Empregos.
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