Postdoctoral Researcher in Advanced Fertilizers and Sustainable Nutrient Delivery

About the role

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir, Morocco, is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for its AgroBioSciences (AgBS) program. The project develops fully biodegradable nutrient carriers and soil amendments from agricultural waste, combining materials science, polymer chemistry and sustainable agriculture. The work focuses on porous biosolid carriers that deliver immediate and slow-release fertilization and improve soil water retention.

Key responsibilities

• Extract and functionalize biopolymers from agricultural and marine biomass and formulate carriers using crosslinking methods such as ionotropic gelation and freeze-drying, including biochar composites.
• Characterize materials with FTIR, SEM/TEM/AFM, BET, XRD, TGA/DSC and zeta potential.
• Design NPK encapsulation strategies, measure loading capacity and release kinetics in water and soil, and model release profiles.
• Run greenhouse experiments under different moisture regimes, measuring plant growth, stress markers (proline, MDA, antioxidant enzymes), nutrient uptake and soil properties.
• Analyse data statistically, write manuscripts, present at conferences and contribute to project reports.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams, supervise PhD and Master's students and help with proposals and technology transfer.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a related field, with a focus on porous materials for agriculture or environment.
• Proven experience in biopolymer extraction and functionalization, material characterization, nutrient loading and controlled release studies, and greenhouse experiments.
• Peer-reviewed publications; excellent English communication; autonomy and problem-solving.
• Prior project management, grant writing or supervision experience is desirable but not required.

Required skills

• Material characterization (FTIR, SEM/TEM, BET, TGA, XRD)
• Nutrient loading and controlled release studies
• Desirable: knowledge of porous carrier synthesis, pyrolysis and biochar production, and statistical software (R, SPSS)

Applications (cover letter, CV with publications and three references) must be sent as a single PDF by September 6, 2026. The position is a fixed-term postdoctoral contract of 1 year, renewable.