Postdoctoral position: intercropping and varietal diversity in organic cropping systems

Department of Biosystems and Technology

Have you performed research about ecological mechanisms in diversified cropping systems? Then you might be the right person for this two-year postdoctoral position, aiming to generate new knowledge about how variety characteristics and intercrop combinations of pea, faba bean and cereals influence competition, complementarity and yield.

About the position

You will be involved in a project that aims to develop cultivation methods for traditional pea varieties which have desirable traits in cropping (e.g. weed suppression and productivity) and as food source (nutrient content, taste, etc.) but which are difficult to cultivate on arable scale due to severe lodging. You will formulate hypotheses and/or research questions to analyse interactions among traits such as early ground cover, plant length and productivity in different intercrop combinations, and evaluate the effects of such interactions on e.g. weed abundance, biological nitrogen fixation and nutrient content of the harvested grains. Furthermore, the results will be used to investigate how ecological mechanisms influence resource use efficiency in diversified crops, thereby generating new knowledge about crop diversity in relation to sustainability in agroecological production systems.  

You will be involved in field experiments to investigate ecological mechanisms in different intercrop combinations with selected varieties of pea, faba bean and cereals. The field experiments will generate multivariate data and you are expected to conduct statistical analyses and interpretations of the data based on scientific literature and theoretical frameworks (e.g. 4C, niche theory) to describe interactions between cultivated crops and their surroundings.  

The position means that you will be responsible for data analysis and scientific publication of the results, as well as communication of practically useful recommendations e.g. to farmers who are interested to increase agrobiodiversity by reintroducing traditional pea varieties in organic cropping systems. The project is closely linked to other ongoing and recently finalised research projects within the subject area, and there are excellent possibilities for international collaboration within the position.  

You are expected to work independently with publishing the results in scientific articles and contributing to the development of new research projects and collaborations. The position also demands active participation in the research environment by collaborations, common idea generation and contributions to joint activities within the subject area and the department.  

Your profile

Required qualifications:

• PhD degree in agroecology, agricultural science, horticultural science or equivalent
• Knowledge about organic cultivation of grain legumes and cereals in the Nordics/northern Europe
• Experience of field experiment research with different intercrop combinations
• Knowledge about ecological mechanisms in intercrops, e.g. competition, niche overlap, complementary resource use, compensation, facilitation
• Knowledge about cultivated diversity (intercropping as well as other methods for crop diversification) and practical implementation of ecological mechanisms in diversified cropping systems
• Excellent communication skulls in English and Swedish, both written and orally

 Desired qualifications:

• Experience of collaboration with farmers/growers
• Experience of international research collaboration
• Experience of writing research proposals
• Knowledge about cultural heritage varieties of legumes and cereals
• Experience of measuring nitrogen fixation in legumes
• Experience of teaching and supervision of university students

The position is intended for a junior researcher, and we are primarily seeking individuals who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years ago. If there are special grounds, the degree may have been completed earlier. Special grounds refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust in trade unions, service in the total defense, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

About us

At the Department of Biosystems and Technology, we explore interactions between soil, plants, animals, the environment, climate, and humans in systems for sustainable food production and renewable raw materials. 

The PhD student will be based in the subject area Horticultural and Agroecological Systems (HAS) within the Department. In HAS, the Agroecology research focuses on the sustainability of horticulture and arable cropping systems and how it is influenced by crop choice, crop diversity, management practices. The subject area is actively involved in teaching linked to its research areas and is also responsible for managing field experiments at the Lönnstorp field research station - an infrastructure for long-term and experimental research on cropping

For more information about the department visit: Department of Biosystems and Technology | slu.se

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Alnarp, Sweden

Form of employment:

Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

As agreed. 

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 21 September 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden. SLU has around 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.