AGBS - Postdoctoral position in Applied microbial biotechnologies

About UM6P

Located at the heart of the future Green City of Benguerir, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), a higher education institution with an international standard, is established to serve Morocco and the African continent. Its vision is honed around research and innovation at the service of education and development. This unique nascent university, with its state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, has woven a sound academic and research network, and its recruitment process is seeking high quality academics and professionals to boost its quality-oriented research environment in the metropolitan area of Marrakech. 

About AgBS-CAES

The AgroBioSciences (AgBS) program is a component of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). It constitutes a structure of practical-based research with a vision of solving real African agriculture challenges leveraging up to date science and technology.

The AgroBioSciences (AgBS) program leverages up to date technologies in the service of African agriculture challenges. It is a multidisciplinary research center with the ambition to conduct relevant and cutting-edge research with a positive impact on the African agriculture. It is based on the collaboration and synergy of several research programs targeting diverse disciplines of research in agriculture, such as: Microbiome, Omics, Plant Physiology and Crop Improvement, Plant Pathology, By-products Valorization, Soil Sciences, Agronomy and Sustainable Farming…

Job / Project description: 

In a context of climate change uncertainties, the farming system is facing many threats affecting the quantity and quality of crops. Technological innovation and sustainable practices within the farming systems are required to enhance food production and meet global food security. In this sense, soil microbial resources, beneficially contributing to crop production, can be exploited as biofertilizer to under both normal and stressful conditions, enhancing nutrient use efficiency and soil health, leading to improved crop yields. Transferring research-based knowledge of this area, biofertilizer to into the ground including industrial applications is essential to embody its real impact on productivity, security and quality of food systems benefiting farmers' livelihoods at a large scale.

The postdoctoral position tends to offer a unique opportunity to work on both fundamental and applied research for development questions on agricultural biologicals. Particularly, the candidate is expected to develop R&D specific tasks on microbial biofertilizers including being involved in creating business value around this biological segment through interacting with other entrepreneurial actors at the level of the University. We seek a highly qualified candidate for a full-time - two-year position as a postdoctoral researcher in the field applied microbial biotechnologies with an entrepreneurial mindset necessary to help build towards successful industry-oriented research in the field of agricultural biofertilizers. In addition, the candidate will participate in business related activities such as value proposition identification, customer discovery, market research, business model development and financial planning, scaling-up, production process setup and profitability calculation. 

Key duties: 

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be expected to:  

• Conduct specific applied research for development actions on microbial biologicals.
• Conduct field experiments. 
• Analyze data and prepare reports and disseminate knowledge.
• Supervise graduate and undergraduate students and contribute to teaching and training activities (if needed).
•  Business Development and Market Research: Identify and refine value propositions, conduct customer discovery, perform market research on microbial biofertilizer production and oversee intellectual property and patenting processes. 

Criteria of the candidate:     

• PhD in the field of plant-microbe interactions, industrial microbiology, microbial biotechnology. 
• Additional coursework or certifications in entrepreneurship, or related areas would be preferred.
• Strong publication record in leading international journals field
• Hands-on experience in startup environments or business development activities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong interest in startup creation and business development.
• Experience in supervising students 
• Experience in conducting field works. 
• Aptitude for teamwork, problem solving and collaborative relationships.  
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English 
• Organizational dexterity and ability to prioritize and manage multiple goals. 
• Positive attitude in changing fast paced environments. 
• Active participation in improvement of self, processes, and goals 

Applications and selection procedure:   

Using a single electronic zipped folder with the mention of the job title in the mails subject. The folder must contain: 

• A cover letter indicating the position applied for and the main research interests. 
• A detailed CV.