Département fédéral
de l
’économie,
de la formation et de la recherche DEFR
Agroscope
M2 Internship Agroscope
Position
Master student internship
Introduction
Developing practices that could contribute to a reduction in the use of pesticides and fertilizer is one of the
priorities of Swiss public research in agronomy. In this context, Agroscope started the ICARO project
(Identification of Constraints and Assets of frost-sensitive intercrop with Rapeseed in Organic and conventional
production systems) in 2018 with the support of private companies UFA Samen, Nutriswiss and Florin and the
scientific collaboration of ESA of Angers and INRA. This project aims to better understand the ecosystem
services provided by frost sensitive companions plants (CPs) associated with oilseed rape (OSR).
One of the main ecosystem services provided by CPs is a better competition against weeds during the early
growth stages of OSR. This will depend on the growing conditions during autumn, and on the choice of species
used as CPs. Technologies such as images analysis will help to have a quick and non-destructive method to
estimate soil cover dynamic and biomass indicators.
Your mission
You will contribute to the development of methods of image analysis, adapted to the evaluation of crop mixtures.
You will quantify traits and responses of OSR and CPs, and use these data to assess the performances of
various CP mixtures in a various environments and years.
Your main tasks will be :
Key words**:** Phenotyping, intercropping, agroecology and weed competition
Your profile
Informations about Agroscope
Agroscope is an innovative research institute for agriculture and nutrition run according to the principles of New
Public Management. Agroscope is part of the federal administration and is attached to the Federal Department of
Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER. It has research stations at a number of sites around
Switzerland. The variety and crop management group is based in Nyon, in the Leman Lake area.
We offer a stimulating work environment in a multidisciplinary research team as well as a close support throughout
the project. Agroscope has excellent research facilities with well-equipped laboratories, greenhouses, climate
chambers and sites for field experiments and field studies. You will profit from flexible working time.
This work will be under the supervision of Juan Herrera (Dr, in charge of digitalization project for Agroscope) and
Xavier Bousselin (PhD Student)
Housing can be provided.
Place of work 1260 Nyon (Changins) VD
Employment level 100 %
Duration 4- 6 months
Start January/February 2020 or as
agreed
Contact
If this challenge appeals to you and you meet the required profile, we look forward to receiving your e-mail
application, in English or French to Xavier Bousselin (xavier.bousselin@agroscope.admin.ch , +41 58 467 61 07).
For further information, please feel free to contact Xavier Bousselin.
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