We are looking for a PhD student who will contribute to an improved understanding of the effects of soil-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on (germination and viability of) seeds of the parasitic weed Striga, and applications for control in the field.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
identify and prioritize (locally available) high-potential sulfur-rich organic sources and (companion) crop species stimulating soil bacteria to overproduce VOCs that inhibit or kill Striga seeds;
together with other project members design and execute lab, greenhouse and field experiments to unravel mechanisms and test effectiveness and feasibility of applications to control Striga;
analyse and interpret data from lab, greenhouse and field experiments addressing both fundamental and applied research questions;
communication of results in scientific publications and on (inter)national workshops;
writing a PhD thesis;
contributing to the teaching portfolio of the group.
Your role
Within the project your role will be to proceed with the project explorations for soil amendments or companion crop species that stimulate soil bacteria to overproduce sulphurous volatiles that inhibit Striga germination or kill Striga seeds. On the one hand you will contribute to an increased understanding of the mechanisms of bacterial volatile effects on Striga seeds, and on the other hand you will apply such acquired insights to the development of Striga control options. You will need to field test such control options in sorghum, millet or rice crops in Africa (Senegal or Ethiopia), on their effectiveness and feasibility for smallholders. You will work within a team of researchers at the chair group and within the larger project team.
You will work here
The research is embedded within Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, and you will become a member of the Crop and Weed Ecology chair group, which is led by Prof. Anten. Your PhD project is further embedded in the PROMISE project. This project aims at generating new knowledge on soil microbiome – Striga – crop interactions with the overall aim to develop new Striga control options that effectively target the soil seed bank and are feasible and accessible to cereal farmers in Africa. Parasitic weeds such as Striga impose serious crop losses, disproportionally affecting smallholders in Africa. This issue is aggravated by soil degradation. This project explores an out-of-the-box agroecological solution for this issue.
Find the link to the full vacancy and guidelines how to apply here!
To apply for this job please visit www.wur.nl.