Postdoctoral Researcher – Botany & Plant Ecology

About the role

The African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI) is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to study the botany and ecology of native desert plant species in southern Morocco. The role combines field expeditions, laboratory analysis, and data management to deepen understanding of plant‑soil interactions and support sustainable agriculture initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement robust methodologies for plant ecology and botany research.
• Lead botanical field expeditions to collect plant and soil samples across desert habitats.
• Identify plant species using taxonomic keys and AI‑based identification tools.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive plant and soil databases.
• Conduct ethnobotanical surveys and contribute to a botanical atlas publication.
• Supervise PhD, Master students, and interns.
• Prepare research proposals, progress reports, and scientific manuscripts for peer‑reviewed journals.
• Manage project budgets, equipment, and field logistics.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in plant ecology, botany, plant science or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in field‑based botanical research.
• Strong publication record in refereed journals.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; French or Arabic is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

Required skills

• Proficiency with AI tools for species identification.
• Working knowledge of statistics for ecological data analysis.
• Experience in database management and data curation.