Postdoctoral Research Associate in Soil and Crop Sciences

Full time, fixed term until (31/10/26)

Closing Date: 23:59 on 5th December 2025

Interview Date: 15 December 2025

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

We seek a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to mechanistically investigate the benefits of cereal-legume intercrops for crop quality and soil health and quantify gaseous and leachate nitrogen losses from field plot experiments. The postholder will balance their time between fieldwork, laboratory analysis, data science, manuscript writing, and communication activities.

Your work will contribute to the completion of deliverables for the final year of the UKRI/Horizon Europe project LEGUMINOSE (Legume-cereal intercropping for sustainable agriculture across Europe).

This is a full-time, fixed term contract which must end by the end of the project on 31st October 2026. We are looking for a candidate that can begin as soon as possible either in January 2026 or February 2026 at the latest.

You will have :

• A PhD (or close to completion) in Agriculture, Soil Science, Crop Science, Environmental Science, or other relevant discipline
• Experience making measurements in the field and analysing soil or plant samples in the laboratory
• Excellent understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems
• Strong skills in quantitative analysis of environmental data
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent team working skills
• Ability to work at both Whiteknights campus and Sonning farm, Reading

We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.

Contact details for advert

Contact Name Tom Sizmur
Contact Job Title Professor of Soil Science
Contact Email address t.sizmur@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name John Hammond
Alternative Contact Job Title Professor of Crop Science
Alternative Contact Email address j.p.hammond@reading.ac.uk

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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