College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Department of Biosciences
The College wishes to recruit a Research Fellow to participate in the Food System Resilience project "Securing the Future of the UK's Favourite Fruit". The post is available from 1st October for three years and based at the Department of Biosciences, Exeter University, Exeter.
Project summary: The UK is highly reliant on imported fruit and vegetables, an important component of a healthy diet, potentially increasing vulnerability to production shocks in producer countries. Globally, climate change and emerging pests and diseases increase the risk of production shocks for many crops. This is exemplified by the banana, the most popular fruit in the UK by consumption and the most important fruit in the world by production. We will address the major questions relating to resilience of banana production and supply in a global context, using an interdisciplinary approach with strong support from non-academic partners: 1. Collate data and produce models of banana yield driven by climatic and management variables, comparing statistical models with process-driven models for national and sub-national (where available) yield data, and project future yields under climate change. 2. Collate data and develop models of pest and disease risk between and within countries, using observational data and other sources, and estimate production impact from known impacts and disease management mechanisms. 3. Test a novel antifungal chemistry on diseases of banana, investing mode of action using microscopy and RNAseq, and testing the potential for resistance evolution. 4. Develop economic frameworks and econometric models to study transmission of production shocks on prices in the banana value chain, and potential to impact consumer behaviour. 5. Conduct stakeholder engagement workshops and interviews to inform of the potential impact and develop strategies in the UK retail sector to manage and mitigate risk, to improve resilience of the sector.
The post will focus on the first two objectives, specifically mathematical modelling of crop production in relation to climatic variability and change, pest and pathogen impacts, and management interventions. The project is interdisciplinary and the post will involve collaboration with plant pathologists, economists, and social scientists, as well as discussions with businesses and diverse international stakeholders. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in modelling of agricultural systems and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. Applicants will be able to develop and apply mathematical models of crop production, collate and statistically analyse diverse datasets relating to crop production and plant disease, and collaborate across disciplines to produce policy-relevant research.
For further information please contact Dr Dan Bebber, e-mail d.bebber@ex.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 725851.
To view the Job Description and Person Specification document please click here.
The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer which is 'Positive about Disabled People'. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.
The department is proud to have a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of their commitment to providing equality of opportunity and advancing the representation of women in STEM/M subjects. All of the University of Exeter's STEM/M departments hold an Athena SWAN award.