Master Researcher for the Department – 4. Collaborative Methods in Monitoring and Diagnosis of Pests and Diseases in Collaborative Lab “InnovPlantProtect – Associação”

Publicado 25-11-2020

InnovPlantProtect

Lisboa Lisboa (Educação / Formação)


1. Descrição do cargo/posição/bolsa
1. Job description


Cargo/posição/bolsa:
Master Researcher for the Department ? 4. Collaborative Methods in Monitoring and Diagnosis of Pests and Diseases in Collaborative Lab ?InnovPlantProtect ? Associação?
Referência: InnovPP035/2020
Área científica genérica: Computer science
Área científica específica: Modelling tools


Resumo do anúncio:
Job advertisement ? Reference InnovPP035/2020 Master Researcher for the Department ? 4. Collaborative Methods in Monitoring and Diagnosis of Pests and Diseases in Collaborative Lab ?InnovPlantProtect ? Associação?

Texto do anúncio
Job advertisement ? Reference InnovPP035/2020

Master Researcher for the Department ? 4. Collaborative Methods in Monitoring and Diagnosis of Pests and Diseases in Collaborative Lab ?InnovPlantProtect ? Associação?
Weeds and pests are two major threats to agriculture. Conventional methods (pesticides, herbicides) harm the environment and are viewed critically by consumers. Better innovative methods of handling these threats are required. We are looking for enthusiastic people who liaise with farmers and want to develop and experiment techniques and methods based on AI to detect, control and monitor pests and diseases on farms. The work will be done in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams of geospatial analyst, precision agriculture engineer, data scientists and data manager/GIS specialist using the latest tools, technologies and techniques.
Main responsibilities This researcher reports directly to the Director of Department 4 of InnovPlantProtect and has the following responsibilities:
  • Identify best field sampling techniques and sampling sites using geospatial technology, for collecting data on pests/diseases and those environmental variables that are stricly related to them e.g. soil main chemical properties, pH and micronutrients;
  • Performs analysis based upon gathered field data to determine patterns of pests/diseases and agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, and weather conditions;
  • Apply knowledge on field attributes data (crop yields, soil and terraing characteristics, drainage patterns, field management history) to implement decision support tools for the monitoring and diagnostics of pests/diseases and their integration to field management strategies.

Specific requirements
  • Master qualification in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Phythology, Plant Biology, Geography, Environmental Sciences;
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting crops as well as understanding of pests/diseases in agriculture and their interdependencies/interactions with the environment: atmospheric dynamics, hydrology, geology and soil mechanics/physics;
  • Proven experience in geospatial analysis and image (satellite/drone) processing using open source software (GRASS, QGIS, Open Drone Map and similar) and experience in application of R, gdal, python to spatial statistics (e.g. density, point patterns, hot spot analyses, etc) and image segmentation and classification analysis;
  • Good level of Portuguese and English.

Main Skills
  • Knowledge of interdependencies between plants, soil quality, terrain, field productivity and weather conditions and how changes in the environment favour outbreaks of pests/diseases;
  • Knowledge of the practical applications of geospatial science and technology to agriculture;
  • Experience with pests/diseases identification, field sampling methods, data collection, data analysis and visualization;
  • Ability to communicate effectively to a non-technical audience;
  • Self-learner, self-motivated, curious and team worker.

InnovPlantProtect is a private non-profit association InnovPlantProtect aims to create innovation for the protection of crops, seeds and post-harvest products, in particular through:
  • Development of new technologies and knowledge, as well as the improvement of previously developed technologies, to protect crops, seeds and post-harvest products, as well as their intellectual protection and availability;
  • Development of applied scientific research to introduce the developed technologies in the market, and to develop processes and products;
  • Provide technical support to companies and entities, public or private, 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 public or private institutions, national or foreign in their areas of activity.

Workplace The place of work will be the headquarters of InnovPlantProtect, at the INIAV Elvas pole, in the former National Plant Breeding Station (Elvas, Portugal).
Salary and contract A full-time contract will be offered, starting January 1st, 2020. The contract will last until December, 31, 2022, being renewed annually, and with a trial period of 30 days. The contract will be renewed past 2022 depending on further financial support. All the activities to be developed will be subject to confidentiality clauses. The gross value of the remuneration will be ?1.509,8 (14 months ? 21.137,2?/year) and 4,77 for lunch subsidy.
Financial Support This contract is co-financed by the European Social Fund and Alentejo 2020, under the Operation: Highly qualified employment in companies - Hiring Highly Qualified Human Resources (PME or CoLAB). Project reference: ALT20-59-2018-49.
To apply for this position the following documents are requested in a single PDF document:
  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Motivation letter
  • Statement of honor on how the data declared in the CV are true.
(If the diploma has not been obtained in a Portuguese Higher Education Institution, the accreditation by the Portuguese state will have to be delivered after the contract is signed)
Where to send the application To the care of the Chief Executive Officer of InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Lab, Professor Pedro Fevereiro ([email protected]).
Deadlines This call is open from November 24 to December 8, with a decision expected on December 18, 2020. Starting date 1st January 2021.
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.



Número de vagas: 1

Tipo de contrato: Outro

País: Portugal

Localidade: Elvas

Instituição de acolhimento: InnovPlantProtect


Data limite de candidatura: 08 December 2020
(A data limite de candidatura deve ser confirmada no texto do anúncio)


2. Dados de contactos da organização
2. Organization contact data

Instituição de contacto: InnovPlantProtect-Associação

Endereço:
Estrada de Gil Vaz
Elvas - 7350-478
Portugal

Email: [email protected]