Postdoc (f/m/d) - Project: "SPEARS: System-based Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production”

Müncheberg

Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains a research station with further locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The position will be based in the Research Platform “Data Analysis and Simulation“ within the Working Group “Ecosystem Modelling“ under the project

“SPEARS: System-based Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Crop Production”.

It is aiming to develop a N management system that minimizes N losses in arable farming. This is achieved by combining sensing of soil and crop information at high spatial and temporal resolution with crop-soil models.

We are offering a full-time position starting November 1, 2025, limited for 36 months at our location in Müncheberg as

Postdoc (f/m/d)

42-2025

Your tasks:

• multi-scale crop modeling and spatial resolution analysis
• data assimilation integration for nitrogen loss reduction
• climate-nutrient interaction analysis using high-resolution sensor networks
• long-term simulation framework development for sustainable N management

Your qualifications:

• PhD in crop science, remote sensing, or a closely related field, with a strong focus on crop growth
• solid knowledge of process-based crop models and/or data-driven approaches for crop yield estimation
• robust experience with R or Python
• proven experience in handling big data
• as an internationally research institution, located in Germany we require good to very good written and spoken English skills and the willingness to take part in further training as part of the language courses in German offered internally

What we offer:

• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to EG 13 (including special annual payment)
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• company ticket
• in-house language courses in German
• mobile working possible and flexible working hours, after consultation

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. The filling of the position in part-time is possible in principle. Please send your application, preferably online (see button online application below). For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!).

Please submit the following documents only: a CV, cover letter, PhD certificate, and recommendation letters from two references, stating the reference number 42-2025 until 31st July 2025 to (see button e-mail application below). The position will commence on November 1st, 2025.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Ehsan Eyshi Rezaei, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-334.

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.