Looking for a PhD candidate on "Performance evaluation of cassava-legumes associations in Rwanda"

The research Unit AIDA-CIRAD invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Agronomy at the University of Montpellier, France. The research is part of the research project “CANALLS”, funded by the European Union.

The project:

The humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa hold much promise for enhancing food and nutritional security within and beyond Africa. With a rich variety of agroecological zones and diverse farming systems, they are home to a dense rural population and host a biodiversity of global significance offering vital ecosystem services and potential for sustainable development. Yet, if we are to tap into this potential, we need to address the complex environmental, social and economic challenges they face, which are in cases exacerbated by conflicts and high vulnerability. In this context, CANALLS aims to drive agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa via multi-actor transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs).In the CANALLS project, the PhD candidate will combine field experimentation and crop modelling to evaluate the performance of cassava-legume intercropping under contrasting environments and management practices (planting date and density, mineral and organic fertilization, date of weeding) in Rwanda. Altogether, the PhD candidate will contribute to assess the potential of intercropping as an agroecological practice to enhance sustainable cassava production.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious candidate driven by 1) understanding of crop and soil processes, such as facilitation and competition between intercrops and 2) our long-term mission to contribute to create more sustainable and resilient cropping systems. We welcome applicants with a background in agronomy, plant sciences, soil sciences, or environmental sciences

Our group and research, and what do we offer?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic group of researchers conducting applied agronomy research and to develop yourself as a creative and critical researcher. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.The CANALLS project is led by Dr. Marc Corbeels (PI). Principal supervisor of the PhD is Dr. Frédéric Baudron.

Qualifications needed:

To be eligible for the PhD program, you must have completed a MSc degree or equivalent degree, related to the subject area of the project, e.g., agronomy, plant sciences, soil sciences, environmental sciences. Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years. Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the University of Montpellier, France. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Download here the full description