Availability

9:00am - 5:00pm or via zoom

Area of Study / Keywords

Agronomy nutrient use efficiency abiotic stresses cropping systems- crop rotation cover and intercropping soil amendments in cropping systems

About

Professional Research Associate

Identification of drought traits in wild lentil genotypes for lentil breeding - University of Saskatchewan

PDF

Lentil underground and drought traits in wild lentil germplasm - University of Saskatchewan

PhD

Crop Water Stress Management: Seedling establishment - University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart Germany

Award

Foundation Fiat Panis, Ulm Germany

Publications

https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/livestock/dairy-farmers-explore-new-path-forward-with-cover-crops/

https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-culture-de-couverture-gagne-lentement-du-terrain-en-alberta/ar-AAZHrme

Ampong, K., Thilakaranthna, M., and Gorim, L.Y. 2022. Understanding the role of humic acids on crop performance and soil health. Front. Agron., 02 March 2022 https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.848621

Patel, I., Gorim, L.Y., Tanino, K. and Vandenberg, A. 2021. Diversity in surface microstructure of trichomes, epidermal cells and stomata in lentil germplasm. Front. Plant Sci., 12 July 2021

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.697692

Gorim, L.Y. and Vandenberg, A. 2019. Variation in total root length and root diameter of wild and cultivated lentil grown under drought and re-watered condition. Plant Genetic Resources 17(1):45-53 https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262118000278

Shunmugam, A.S.K., Kannan, U., Jiang, Y., Daba, K.A. and Gorim, L.Y. 2018. Physiology based approaches for breeding of next generation food legumes. Plants 7(3) 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants7030072

Gorim, L. and Vandenberg, A. 2018. Can wild lentil genotypes help improve water use and transpiration efficiency in cultivated lentil? Plant Genetic Resources; 1-10 doi:10.1017/S1479262117000399

Gorim, L. and Vandenberg, A. 2017. Root traits, nodulation traits and their distribution in the soil for five wild lentil species and Lens culinaris (Medik.) grown under well-watered conditions. Front. Plant Sci. 8:1632. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01632

Gorim, L.Y. and Vandenberg, A. 2017. Evaluation of wild lentil species as genetic resources to improve drought tolerance in cultivated lentil. Front. Plant Sci. 8:1129. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01129

Gorim, L. and Asch, F. 2017. Seed coating increases seed moisture uptake and restricts embryonic 

oxygen availability in germinating cereal seeds. Biology 6(2), 31 doi:10.3390/biology6020031

Gorim, L. and Asch, F. 2014. Seed coating reduces respiration losses and affects sugar metabolism during germination and early seedling growth in cereals. Functional Plant Biology 42(2): 209-218 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP14142

Research

Background: Western Canadian cropping systems are dominated by tight cereals, pulses and canola crop rotations. These tight crop rotations are selected for their profitability, but are quickly becoming unfeasible due to serious diseases such as Clubroot and Aphanomyces. Simplistic crop rotations are also increasingly reliant on chemical inputs (such as fungicides, herbicides and pesticides). Controlling diseases requires extending and diversifying crop rotations along with integration of superior genetics and advanced agronomic practices. Long term solutions require a systems perspective of the role of cropping rotations and agronomic practices on crop, soil, and pest function.

Focus: The focus of my research program are as follows:

a) Integrated Agronomy: Linking crop productivity, water and fertilizer use efficiency, soil management, economic benefits, and control of pests (weeds, insects and diseases).

b) Sustainability: Provide innovation in the areas of economic, social and environmental sustainability associated with a whole farm systems approach.

c) Cropping Systems: Work on landscape and farm-level management systems to address issues related to the role of crop rotation using more diverse annual crop choices and perennial crops, optimizing agricultural land yield and quality, increasing input use efficiencies, and thereby improving environmental health and agricultural sustainability;

While plant breeding and agronomy programs contribute to superior genetics capable of maximal performance under best agronomic practices, scaling the latter to on-farm levels have proved challenging, and requires a systems perspective of the role of cropping rotations and agronomic practices on crop and soil function.

Therefore, the development of landscape and farm-level management systems that optimize agricultural land yield, quality, and ongoing input costs, while simultaneously improving environmental health and agricultural sustainability is core to my program. The role of novel rotations using more diverse annual and perennial crop choices including pulses will be investigated. An integrated approach to agronomy that incorporates nutrients flow, water balance, and climatic conditions such as droughts or flooding, drought and heat spells, high temperatures, vapor pressure deficit and the variability of these stresses from one cropping season to another, is key. Ultimately, this research will link crop productivity, water and fertilizer use efficiency, manure management, and detection and control of weeds, insects and diseases, with other environmental benefits, such as carbon storage in soils, available phosphorus and/or the dynamics of greenhouse gases (N2O and CH4), in a systems approach. The focus will be on the major crops such as wheat, barley, canola, oats and pulses.

"People were people before they became scientist"

Teaching

Teaching and mentorship: For teaching, the vision is a program that develops undergraduate students into leading highly qualified personnel capable of providing expertise to all sectors of the crop industry, including primary producers, agri-business, agricultural policy makers, and other relevant stakeholders. Student mentoring and supervision that incorporates work-life-balance and also focuses on the development of soft skills in the workplace is an integral part of my research program. 

1. Exploring field crop agronomy (PL SC 210) - Fall
2. Work experience in Agriculture (WKEXP 988): Summer internship included - Begins May 2022

Graduate Student Opportunities: 

All graduate opportunities are advertised here on my homepage. I do not respond to individual inquiries except you have already secured your own funding.

Closed positions will be indicated as 'Closed' i.e. recruitment has occurred.

The Cropping Systems Research Group led by Dr. Linda Gorim in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta invites applications for highly motivated graduate students, Postdocs and a Technician.

Potential Projects include:

1. MSc: Optimization of seed coatings for combating PRR (Preferred background: Plant pathology) - Open.

Others:

1. PhD positions: Nitrification Inhibition on GHG Emissions, soil health and Barley Performance (Preferred background: Agronomy and Soil Science) -may open in April/May 2023

Prospective HQPs should have:

•  Experience with field research, handling of huge datasets is important
• A Class 5 Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one will be an asset

Start Date: Either May or September 2023- the possibility to start this summer as a summer student is also possible.

Qualifications

 Education:

For MSc Applicants: A Bachelor’s degree from a North American or European university is required or MSc from another country. A combination of a Bachelor’s degree in a comparable field and at least two years of professional experience in research environments may be considered.

For Ph.D. Applicants: An MSc degree from a North American or European university is required.

For Postdoc Applicants: Your Ph.D. should have been completed within the last 1-4 years.

Skills:

• ·        Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Teams, etc); demonstrated ability using R or SAS for data analysis would be an asset
• ·        Demonstrated ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Critical learning and writing skills are required
• ·        Demonstrated ability to create and foster relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and education levels
• ·        Demonstrated ability to present research results to farmers and/or scientific audiences
• ·        Ability to drive and possess a valid driver’s license; demonstrated ability to drive a pickup truck and tow a large trailer would be an asset.

All Applicants: Applications must include a cover letter, a statement addressing specific background requirements and qualifications, your resume and your transcripts. These documents should be submitted as a single PDF document. The statement addressing qualifications must address each and every one of the qualifications listed in the above sections on education, experience and skills. The use of subtitles is strongly recommended. We also strongly encourage providing specific examples of actions or behaviors to demonstrate experience or skill. Reporting false information in your application will lead to disqualification.

Inquiries regarding these positions and applications should be emailed to Dr. Linda Gorim at gorim@ualberta.ca 

All students must meet admission requirements to the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta (https://www.ualberta.ca/agriculture-life-environment-sciences/programs/graduate-programs/prospective-students/agricultural-food-and-nutritional-science/afns-admission-process)

*** We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. 

PL SC 210 - Exploring Field Crop Agronomy

Introduction to basic agronomy of western Canadian field crops. Students will experience agronomic practices, crop equipment and technology hands-on. Extended field trip prior to the start of classes. Prerequisite: *30

WKEXP 988 - Work Experience in Agriculture

Incorporates the agronomic knowledge gained during a summer internship with transferable skills in the workplace. Students will work continuously on several skills throughout the summer with input from their supervisors (Ag company) and course instructor. Important work- related topics including work-life balance, the Drama Triangle and leadership styles will also be taught.

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