Organisation/Company IRTA Department Human Resources Research Field Agricultural sciences » Agronomics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Sep 2026 - 23:15 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

We are looking for a PhD candidate to join the Sustainable Field Crops Program team, based in Lleida (Catalonia,Spain). We offer the opportunity to be part of an organization with a dynamic, collaborative work environment focused on professional development.

The selected candidate will join the REWHEAT project within a national research project funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI).

The REWHEAT project is focused on developing climate-resilient, high-yielding wheat with stable and superior grain and gluten quality. The project will combine Mediterranean landrace diversity, advanced breeding with predictive modelling and optimized agronomic management. The candidate will work on introducing key quality and adaptation traits into elite wheat, forecasting grain quality and yield from genetic, phenological, soil and climate data, and designing nitrogen and irrigation strategies that maintain quality under warmer and more variable conditions while reducing resource use and environmental impact.

Key researchers for the position: Dr. Marta da Silva and Dr. Adrian Gracia Romero

Tasks and Responsibilities:

- Characterize and select Mediterranean wheat landraces and breeding lines for gluten quality, yield, climate resilience, and adaptation traits.
- Develop and manage MAGIC and backcross populations under field and controlled conditions, marker-assisted selection, and allele pyramiding.
- Conduct and evaluate field, greenhouse, and laboratory trials to assess grain yield, protein content, gluten quality and stability across environments.
- Collect and integrate genetic, phenological, soil, crop, climate, and management data to develop predictive models for yield and grain quality.




- Design and validate nitrogen, fertilization, and irrigation strategies aligned with crop phenology to stabilize quality and improve resource efficiency.
- Analyse and communicate results through statistical and genomic approaches, scientific publications, reports, presentations, and collaboration with project partners.
- Master’s degree in plant breeding, genetics, agronomy, crop science, plant biology, or a closely related field.
- Experience in field, greenhouse, or laboratory experiments involving cereal crops, preferably wheat.
- Knowledge of plant breeding, quantitative genetics, crop physiology, or grain-quality assessment.
- Experience in data analysis using statistical software such as R, Python, or equivalent tools.
- Ability to collect, manage, and interpret genetic, phenotypic, environmental, and agronomic data.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and scientific writing skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary and international research team.
- Good command of written and spoken English.
- Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree (PhD)
- Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.
- Basic knowledge of plant breeding, genetics, agronomy, crop physiology, or cereal science.
- Previous academic exposure to wheat, crop improvement, plant adaptation, or grain quality.
- Familiarity with field, greenhouse, or laboratory work through a thesis, internship, practical course, or research project.
- Basic experience with data analysis using R, Python, Excel, or similar software.
- Willingness to learn breeding methods, grain-quality analysis, statistical modelling, and experimental techniques.
- Good communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.




- Motivation to undertake doctoral research and develop new technical and scientific skills.
- Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Agricultural sciences » Agronomics

Additional Information

Advantages of joining our team:

- Contract: 4 years
- First, second and third year of contract: 23.322,09€ gross per year
- Fourth year of contract: 26.325,47€ gross per year

*Subject to the corresponding withholdings, pursuant to prevailing regulations, and to the collective employment agreement of IRTA

The doctoral grant provides up to 7.000€ in additional funding to cover:

- Research stays of at least one month at other R&D; centres.
- Tuition fees for the four years of the PhD programme.
- 37.5 hour workweek, with Friday afternoons off
- Intensive work schedule from 15/06 to 15/09
- 3 days of family & work conciliation
- 45 hours of personal days
- Versátil Schedule for a good work-life balance.
- Continuous training and professional growth opportunities.

Selected candidates must, at the time of signing the employment contract, provide documentation confirming either their admission to a doctoral programme or their enrolment in the programme.

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s People Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.

Selection process

Timings in the Recruitment Process

Curricular assessment: The candidate’s qualifications and merits will be evaluated according to the criteria established in the job offer.

Interview(s): These will be conducted by a Selection Committee to assess the candidate’s suitability in terms of professional experience and competencies.

Additional tests (if applicable): Depending on the position profile and the needs of the process, specific competency-based tests and/or a psychometric test may be included in order to more accurately assess the suitability of the candidates.
Start of contract: January 2027 (approximately)

The contract is part of project PID OR-I00 , funded by MICIU/AEI/ / and by the European Social Fund Plus FSE+.

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📌 PhD Candidate in wheat agronomy and breeding (España)
🏢 IRTA
📍 España