Organisation/Company Universidad Politecnica de Cartagena Research Field Agricultural sciences » Agronomics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 30 Apr 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number HORIZON-MSCA-2023-COFUND-01-01 Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101179088 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer DescriptionAgrifoodTECH COFUND
Research Code: C1-GROWING MEDIA
We are seeking innovative research proposals that explore the sustainability, environmental performance and functional roles of growing media in horticultural systems, considering factors that influence the adoption and performance of peat alternatives and their contribution to more sustainable horticultural production.
Context: Peat has long been a key component of horticultural growing media because of its favorable physical and chemical properties, including good water retention and aeration, stable pH and light weight as well as consistency, availability and affordability. However, its use raises well-documented environmental and sustainability concerns, particularly due to its slow renewability and the ecological impacts associated with peatland degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. In parallel with broader efforts to identify more sustainable alternatives to peat, increasing attention is being given to renewable and locally available materials that could support horticultural production while reducing environmental pressures. Understanding the properties, performance and implications of such materials remain an active area of research within horticultural science and substrate management.
The problem to address: Peat-free growing media often differ substantially in their physical, chemical, biological and environmental characteristics, which can influence plant-substrate interactions, resource-use efficiency and overall system sustainability. This diversity creates challenges for understanding how alternative materials perform under different horticultural conditions and how their properties relate to crop growth, substrate behavior, or environmental impacts. In addition, factors such as variability in raw material quality, degradation patterns, nutrient dynamics or broader socioeconomic and logistical considerations highlight the complexity of identifying sustainable pathways for reducing dependence on peat. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires advancing scientific knowledge on the functioning, performance and implications of alternative growing media within horticultural systems.
Objectives:
Advance understanding of the properties, dynamics and implications of peat alternatives for soilless horticultural production.
Investigate factors influencing the environmental, agronomic and socioeconomic dimensions of sustainable growing media and their role in horticultural production systems.
Explore how different management approaches influence the functioning and performance of alternative growing media in substrate-based horticultural crops.
Expected Outcomes: Research conducted under this line may contribute to broader scientific perspectives on peat alternatives and their roles in horticultural production. Possible outcomes may include:
Evidence to support new frameworks for how alternative growing media functions in horticultural systems, especially substrate behavior and plant responses.
Insights into broader sustainability implications of transitioning away from peat, including potential environmental, agronomic or socioeconomic trade-offs associated with peat-free growing media usage.
Knowledge that could enhance interdisciplinary discussions on sustainable substrate selection and management, help situate horticultural growing media within wider debates on resource renewability and circularity.
Candidate Qualifications (if any): Candidates may come from a broad range of disciplines relevant to the topic, including agronomy, horticulture, or other closely related scientific fields. Experience or familiarity with research areas such as soilless cultivation, fertigation practices, data analysis and statistical approaches, or sustainability-related aspects of horticultural systems may be considered an asset.
Who can apply? Candidates must have a PhD degree and must have obtained their (first) PhD a maximum of 8 years before the deadline of each call according to the MSCA scheme. Candidates must also comply with the MSCA mobility rule, must have to identify a main supervisor and are expected to define their Individual Research Proposal (IRP) .
In support of gender dimension and other diversity aspects, UPCT is committed to ensuring full transparency in the recruitment, evaluation and selection process, in which all candidates are evaluated equally on the basis of their achievements and are not discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or socio-economic background. There is also a Code of Ethics which sets out the main moral aspirations to be respected and complied with by UPCT members; good practices to be carried out for the equal treatment of people regardless of their condition or circumstance; and a service for the support of candidates with some kind of disability (whether intellectual, physical, sensory, mental or other illnesses) during the application process and throughout the IRP.
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