RESEARCH ASSOCIATE- PLANT BREEDING

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance  solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. (https://alliancebioversityciat.org/)

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.

The Alliance is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

Alliance is seeking to recruit a Research Associate- Plant Breeding. The Research Associate- Plant Breeding will support the Tropical Forages Plant Breeding Program with specific research activities aimed at characterization and evaluation of tropical forage grasses (Urochloa and Megathyrsus) for Africa. Activities include genotype preparations/management for data acquisition, experimental design, installation, and management of field and/or greenhouse trials, data collection from on-station trials and other locations if needed (national and international), data analyses, providing input to reports/publications resulting from the datasets and, support of and development of communication materials targeting different audiences. Conduct molecular biology and laboratory analysis. Import/export of materials. The work is primarily focused on Kenya with occasional engagements in Zambia.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate research efforts consistent with the established research/experimental design and implementation according to specific milestones.
• Monitor execution of research procedures and experimental protocols, and reviews data quality to ensure consistency with established guideline.
• Advise research team on progress of research activities and identify issues in the implementation of experiments and data quality.
• Perform collection, analysis and sharing of data in compliance with experimental protocols to support research/experimental project.
• Supervise field staff (e.g. casuals) on management of field and/ or greenhouse trials.
• Organize review of experimental/research data aligned to testing schedules and project timelines, identifies and responsively addresses issues in execution.
• Sustain quality of research work by ensuring that field research and laboratory procedures are executed consistently and with rigor in accordance with established research and safety guidelines.
  
  

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a field related to agronomy/biotechnology.
• Experience in Forage Grasses such as Urochloa and/or Megathyrsus will be valued.
• Experience with agronomic trial set-ups and data collection.
• Experience with molecular biology and laboratory techniques.
• Experience in data handling and database management.
• Knowledge in conducting good literature reviews and report writing.
• Knowledge statistical analysis software, such as R, and bioinformatics.

Terms of employment

This is a nationally recruited position based in Nairobi, Kenya. The contract will be for a period of one year, subject to a probation period of three (3) months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. The Alliance offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits; we believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

Applications
Applicants are invited to visit  https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/ to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number Ref: 103084– RESEARCH ASSOCIATE-PLANT BREEDING as the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting.

Note: The Alliance does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applications closing date: 7^th June 2023

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:  http://alliancebioversityciat.org