The ERC ARISER project aims to understand the role of means of access to crop diversity in the resilience of rural households in semi-arid zones. To achieve this, the project combines:
i. Analysis of socio-economic and agronomic data collected from nearly 2,000 households in three countries (Senegal, Madagascar, Morocco) over a four-year period;
ii. Simulation of the effects of different methods of circulating seeds and associated information on household access to crop diversity using a model combining multi-agent systems and network topologies.

The post-doctoral researcher will be responsible for developing this model and running the simulations. The aim of this work is to explore, in theoretical terms, the effects of seed and information circulation methods on the dynamics of crop diversity. Multi-agent modelling will make it possible to better represent the diversity of farmers’ behaviours with regard to access to seeds, considering that this aspect has been insufficiently developed in the simulation models used thus far.
The post-doctoral researcher will refer to data collected both via surveys and via a serious game implemented in Senegal in 2023 and 2024. However, the model developed is intended to be generic and should subsequently incorporate the data collected on the other study sites.

The position will involve the following activities:
- designing the model using existing models, survey data and data on farmers’ decision-making rules already available and obtained via a serious game;
- validating the model using project data and adjusting the rules and parameters;
- running simulations to systematically test the effects of different network topologies for seed and information circulation on crop diversity at farm level and its stability in the face of disturbances.

Depending on the candidate’s interest and the long-term feasibility of the position, its reach may include participatory modelling. You may also be required to lead or take part in workshops to present the model and its results to project partners and participants on certain study sites.

A recent research thesis, within the last 3 years, in one of a variety of disciplines (agronomy, socio-economics or environmental sciences, possibly statistics).

The following skills are expected:
- In-depth experience modelling socio-ecological and multi-agent systems;
- Excellent command of at least one multi-agent modelling platform;
- Proven ability to write and communicate in English.

The following skills would be appreciated:
- Knowledge of agricultural systems and rural societies, if possible in Africa;
- Strong knowledge of the issues surrounding the management of agrobiodiversity in the agricultural systems of the Global South, and an interest in this.