About ROOTED
Background
A deeper understanding of the interactions between soils and plants, especially at the root zone, where they take up water and nutrients may support sustainable intensification of agricultural production. Research is indicating that a greater understanding of roots and soil functions may lead to increases in crop yields, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from soils, enhanced productivity in grasslands and reductions in fertilizer requirements to land. However, data gaps remain in our understanding of how plant roots interact with their environment from a physiological and phenotypic perspective. The challenge of ensuring food security provides the impetus for ROOTED (Root Phenotyping Integrated Educational Doctoral Network). ROOTED will apply deep learning and artificial intelligence to speed up data generation in root phenotyping.
Network
ROOTED consolidates the complimentary expertise of an international, interdisciplinary, multisectoral team to train a new generation of creative, resilient, adaptive multi-skilled scientists capable of innovating the fields of plant and soil sciences to actively contribute to the goal of doubling food production in a sustainable manner by 2050. Soil health and food is one of the 5 mission areas for Horizon Europe and the findings from ROOTED would be directly applicable to the EU’s Green deal and a Soil Deal for Europe. ROOTED graduates will have a level of scientific, communication and digital skills mastery that enables them to move straight into employment in agri-food businesses, seed and breeding companies, advisory and scientific roles.
To achieve the objectives of the network, each Doctoral Researcher will undertake a combination of individual and collaborative research work, at least one secondment and workshops on scientific and applied skills facilitated by the academic/non-academic members of the consortium.
Recruitment
Rooted is seeking applications for 10 highly motivated and talented PhD candidates for these fully funded positions.
For detailed information on each position, including how to apply and the application deadline, please refer to each position description in the Recruitment dropdown menu at the top of this page.
If you wish to apply to more than one position, please apply individually to each position.
All applicants must include this Rooted Application Form as part of their application for any of the positions listed.