Doctoral student position in Agronomy / Soil Science in Zürich

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Plant Nutrition group at the Department of Environmental Systems Science is looking for a Doctoral student in Agronomy / Soil Science.

Project title: “Can organic farming practices increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency and decrease N losses in tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O.) Kuntze) plantations in Sri Lanka?” (Acronym N-tea)

Background: Nitrogen (N) losses from agriculture lead to the release of reactive N species that are harmful to the environment and for human health. However, sufficient N inputs are necessary to achieve optimal crop yield and quality, especially in crops such as tea, in which the vegetative growth components are economically important.

Objective of the project: is to assess whether the implementation of organic cropping practices can improve N use efficiency by tea and decrease N losses, without compromising the yield and quality. More specifically we will study i) fertilization practices, and N input output balance on selected plots located in small holders and estate plantations as well as the quality of tea produced from these plantations (Work Package 1, WP1), ii) the sources, uptake and use of N by tea in a long term trial comparing conventional and  organic tea cropping systems (WP2), iii) the forms and dynamics of soil carbon and N in this trial (WP3), and iv) the losses of N from the soil/plant systems (WP4). The project will be conducted by two doctoral students in partnership between ETH Zurich, the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, and the University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka.

Job description: The Group of Plant Nutrition of ETH is looking for an outstanding doctoral student who is highly motivated and has the necessary disciplinary skills to carry out WP3 (soil organic C and N dynamics) and WP4 (N losses from the soil/plant system). The person selected by ETH will collaborate closely with the doctoral student from the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka) who will carry out WP1 and WP2 and with the teams of the Sri Lankan partners.

Workplace: The doctoral student will be based in the Group of Plant Nutrition, Research Station Lindau-Eschikon, ETH Zürich (, and will frequently travel to the University of Peradeniya in Kandy and to the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka in Talawakelle, Sri Lanka for field work.

Additional information: The doctoral student will be supervised by Professor Dr Emmanuel Frossard and Dr Astrid Oberson from the Group of Plant Nutrition (ETH Zurich). The candidate’s salary will be in accordance with ETH Zurich regulations.

Keywords: Tea yield and quality, N use efficiency, 15N, N losses, Sri Lanka, organic farming

Start: 1st of October 2021

Duration: 4 years (100% position), Full-time basis

Application deadline: June 30th, 2021 (or until a suitable candidate is found)

Applicants must have received a university degree or equivalent (MSc or similar). A background in soil, agricultural, or environmental sciences or in related disciplines is needed. It is required that the candidate has an advanced knowledge of written and spoken English.

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