Organisation/Company IRTA Department Human Resources Research Field Agricultural sciences » Soil science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 11:04 (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? NoOffer DescriptionWe are looking for a PhD Candidate to join the Sustainability in Biosystems Programme, based at IRTA Torre Marimon (Caldes de Montbui, Catalonia, Spain). We offer the opportunity to be part of an international research environment with a dynamic and collaborative team focused on scientific excellence, innovation, and professional development.The selected candidate will join the CARBON-PLAST project (Microplastic effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in Mediterranean agriculture) funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI).
The project aims to understand how microplastics affect soil health by altering carbon and nitrogen dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and microbial communities under Mediterranean agricultural conditions. The research combines laboratory microcosm experiments with field studies in IRTA's long-term experimental sites, using state-of-the-art analytical techniques, including LDIR and FTIR spectroscopy, molecular microbiology methods, greenhouse gas monitoring, and life cycle assessment.Key researchers for the positionDr. Francesc PrenafetaDr. Marta RuizTasks and Responsibilities:Develop, together with the supervisory team, a doctoral research plan addressing the effects of microplastics on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions.Design and carry out laboratory and field experiments related to the doctoral project, progressively developing scientific independence under
📌 PhD Candidate in Soil Microplastics, Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling (España)
🏢 IRTA
📍 España