Research Assistant (m/f/d), EG 13 TV-H - in the Department of Grassland Sciences and Renewable Resources

Part-time position with 50.00 percent of the regular working hours of a full-time employee, initially for 3 years (§ 2 para. 2 WissZeitVG), to work on the research project "UNSIFRAN: Weed control in silage maize cultivation through preventive, systemic measures in crop rotation and cultivation design".

UNSIFRAN is a research project funded by the BMEL as part of the federal program "Organic Farming and Other Forms of Sustainable Agriculture (BÖLN)". The planned project aims to optimize weed control in silage maize cultivation, one of the most significant cultivation problems, particularly in organic farming, through a preventive approach in crop rotation and cultivation design with simultaneous year-round soil protection. To this end, a systematic investigation of winter-hardy legumes in pure seed or in mixtures with winter cereals as previous crops or first crops and subsequent maize cultivation with reduced tillage or direct sowing as well as different row spacing as a second crop will be carried out. The following aspects will be investigated: 1) Examination of the preceding crops with regard to their potential for a preventive reduction of weed pressure in silage maize due to their biomass development. 2) The effect of different treatment methods for the first crops: harvesting at the end of May or mechanical destruction of the growth using a knife roller. 3) Testing of reduced tillage for maize sowing or direct maize sowing after mechanical destruction of the previous crop. 4) Effect of reduced seed spacing.

In addition to our own trial site, further trials are being carried out independently by cooperation partners at two other sites. Extensive knowledge transfer is planned in the form of demonstration projects on practical farms.

It is also planned to record the development and composition of plant populations using innovative sensory methods as part of the activities of the GNR department with regard to the application of remote sensing methods.

The main place of work is Witzenhausen, there is the possibility of a doctorate.

Your tasks:

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Independently conducting field trials at the Neu-Eichenberg site of the University of Kassel.
• Independent data collection on weed scoring and quantification; crop dynamics; development of mulch application; feed value and yield of silage maize; Nmin dynamics in the soil; economic comparison
• Independent application of remote sensing methods after instruction
• Independent data evaluation and interpretation
• Intensive collaboration with cooperation partners
• Co-supervision of demonstration projects on practical farms
• Preparation of scientific publications in international journals
• Presentation of results at scientific conferences
• Integration of project content into existing and planned courses

Your requirements:

• Above-average academic degree (MSc or diploma) in the field of agricultural science
• Ability to carry out independent scientific work, particularly in the implementation and evaluation of field trials
• Agricultural science background as well as knowledge of and interest in practical agriculture (especially crop production)  
• Experience in dealing with extensive data sets - good knowledge of statistical methods of data evaluation
• Willingness to familiarize yourself with the field of remote sensing methods for the collection of crop production parameters
• Open-mindedness and creativity with regard to cooperation in the overall project - Ability to work in a team
• Willingness to be involved in teaching at the Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. M. Wachendorf, Tel.: 05542-981334, E-Mail mwach[at]uni-kassel[dot]de and Dr. Rüdiger Graß, Tel. 05542/981312, E-Mail rgrass[at]uni-kassel[dot]de.

The protection of your personal data is important to us, which is why we will handle your personal data with care. If you provide us with your data, you allow us to store and use it in accordance with the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will then be deleted. Information in accordance with Art. 13 GDPR for the application procedure at the University of Kassel can be found at www.uni-kassel.de/go/ausschreibung-datenschutz

In the interests of equal opportunities, the University of Kassel strives to offer women and men the same development opportunities and to counteract existing disadvantages. The aim is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Qualified women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Severely disabled applicants with equal aptitude and qualifications will be given preference. Please only send us copies of your application documents (no folders), as these cannot be returned after the selection process has been completed; they will be destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations. Applications with informative documents should be sent to the President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel or bewerbungen[at]uni-kassel[dot]de, stating the reference number in the subject line, also in electronic form.