Post Doctoral Researcher in the field of urban horticulture

Job Description

The⠀successful⠀candidate⠀will work⠀as⠀Research⠀Assistant⠀in the Abu⠀Dhabi⠀International⠀Virtual⠀Research⠀Institute⠀for Food⠀Security⠀in the⠀Drylands.⠀This⠀institute⠀features a⠀comprehensive⠀and highly⠀interdisciplinary⠀R&D⠀program⠀and⠀provides⠀an⠀international⠀collaboration⠀platform⠀for⠀researchers⠀and⠀stakeholders⠀of the⠀public and⠀private⠀food and⠀agricultural⠀sector.⠀The⠀virtual⠀research⠀institute⠀strives to⠀generate⠀knowledge⠀and⠀technological⠀innovation⠀in support⠀of food⠀security⠀in the UAE⠀and other⠀arid⠀environments⠀of the⠀world. As⠀part of⠀one of its⠀research⠀themes,⠀the⠀institute⠀is aiming⠀at⠀exploring⠀the⠀systematic⠀integration⠀of food⠀production⠀into urban⠀living⠀environments⠀through⠀the⠀development⠀of⠀stakeholder-conscious/occupant-sensitive⠀innovative⠀and⠀sustainable⠀solutions.⠀The⠀successful⠀candidate⠀is⠀expected⠀to work⠀independently⠀and as⠀part of an⠀international⠀and⠀interdisciplinary⠀team. The⠀ability to⠀work on an⠀integrated⠀building/food⠀production⠀system, or⠀greenhouse⠀experiments⠀is vital.⠀Experience⠀with the⠀handling⠀of⠀soilless⠀production⠀systems,⠀as well as⠀fruit and⠀vegetable⠀cultivation⠀are of⠀great⠀advantage.⠀We are⠀seeking a⠀qualified⠀research⠀assistant⠀with the⠀capacity⠀to work on⠀a⠀“Building⠀Integrated⠀Agriculture”⠀research⠀project.⠀The⠀required⠀expertise⠀of the⠀candidate⠀will⠀include⠀architecture,⠀building⠀aesthetics,⠀sustainability,⠀stakeholder⠀engagement,⠀integration⠀of⠀innovative⠀technologies⠀in⠀buildings⠀and urban⠀farming⠀solutions,⠀in and on⠀buildings⠀which may⠀integrate⠀with⠀building⠀systems.⠀Additionally,⠀we⠀appreciate⠀the⠀interest⠀in⠀horticultural⠀production⠀technologies,⠀such as⠀environmental⠀control,⠀lighting⠀systems,⠀and⠀automation.⠀A proven⠀ability to⠀prepare⠀manuscripts⠀for⠀publication⠀in⠀impacted⠀international⠀research⠀journals⠀is⠀required.⠀Key tasks⠀include⠀critical⠀literature⠀review,⠀Building⠀environmental⠀assessment,⠀product⠀design and⠀prototyping,⠀construction,⠀and⠀experimental⠀testing.⠀The⠀working⠀place is⠀the campus⠀of the⠀United⠀Arab⠀Emirates⠀University⠀in Al Ain,⠀including⠀its⠀experimental⠀stations.⠀The⠀position⠀is for a⠀period of⠀9 months,⠀with the⠀possibility⠀of⠀extension⠀on an⠀annual⠀basis
Minimum Qualifacation

Ph.D. degree in horticultural, agricultural, architectural, or environmental engineering with research/working experience in the field of the study.

Preferred Qualifacation

Experienced in research design, social experimentation, qualitative research design, and stakeholder engagement. Capacity for teamwork, collaborative mindset, and critical analysis. Excellent writing skills and publications track record