Research Fellow in Plant-Soil Modelling

Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £37,897 per annum

Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from passionate, skilled, committed prospective plant and soil modellers to contribute to a multi-partner international project ‘Climate-resilient crops with improved phosphorous efficiency through beneficial fungal interactions’. 

About the Role

Excessive use of phosphorous (P) fertilisers has caused major environmental contamination worldwide, while other regions face P-deficient soils and limited fertiliser access. Climate-driven warmer, drier conditions further reduce soil P availability. Although many crops still use mycorrhizal fungi to improve P uptake, the plant-fungus relationship is not optimised for modern agriculture. 

This project will investigate plant genetic mechanisms that coordinate mycorrhizal interactions with plant P and water status, root development, and soil microbial communities. Working with partners in Cambridge, Germany and the US, we will link gene-level understanding to field studies to develop a framework for improving plant-fungal symbioses in agriculture. The modelling component will integrate existing root-growth, rhizosphere and P-uptake models, and generate new models of the costs and effects of mycorrhizal associations.

About You

You will be educated to doctoral level in a relevant subject and have experience of research in plant and soil science, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. You will have some experience in mathematical modelling and basic-level programming, but our main requirement is for someone who will understand the plant and soil science behind the project and be able to translate that into models using the results of the experimental working. You will have excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                     

For an informal discussion, please contact Professor Guy Kirk, g.kirk@cranfield.ac.uk

To apply, please click above 'Apply' Button. For further details please contact peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk quoting 5271. 

Closing date: 10 May 2026

www.cranfield.ac.uk

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