Senior Research Specialist - Soil Microbiology
Job ID:
HQ01930
Location
Philippines
Closing Date
22-Nov-2026
About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
Job Purpose
Within IRRI, the Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Cropping Systems (SIRS) Department pioneers innovative solutions to enhance the productivity and sustainability of rice systems. As part of this effort, the “Reinventing Nitrogen” initiative seeks to develop nature-based, microbial innovations that can transform nitrogen management in rice—from reliance on chemical fertilizers to harnessing the natural power of soil microbes and biological nitrogen fixation.
We are now seeking a talented Soil Microbiologist to join our multidisciplinary team. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the frontier of microbe-soil-climate science, applying cutting-edge microbiome research and analytical tools to develop climate-smart, field-ready solutions that boost nitrogen use efficiency and accelerate the transition to sustainable rice production systems.
This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and is open for international applications.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Research and identify emerging trends on soil microbial ecology and biological nitrogen fixation and recommend new research approaches and opportunities to improve research methodology.
- Design, conduct, and analyze experiments, under the supervision of the Senior Scientist to characterize and evaluate beneficial nitrogen-fixing microbes under varying nutrient and soil management conditions.
- Apply and test new big data analytical tools to advance understanding of soil and microbiome dynamics and interactions in rice systems for crop nutrition and soil health.
- Contribute to IRRI’s broader goal of advancing sustainable, climate-smart, and low-emission rice production systems through integration of microbiome science with agronomy, breeding, and data analytics.
- Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams across IRRI-including plant microbiologists, soil scientists, agronomists, breeders, physiologists, molecular biologists, modelers and data scientists, as well as global national partners and advanced research institutions, to share knowledge and align research activities
- Collaborate with soil microbial research centers, universities, and industry to share microbial resources, codevelop protocols for microbial inoculants under field conditions, identifying opportunities for alignment and capacity development.
- Support training, mentoring, and capacity building in soil microbiology for IRRI staff, students, and NARES partners.
- Develop and maintain a microbial database integrated with agronomic and soil data to support data-driven discovery of microbial solutions.
- Contribute to the development of integrated microbial solutions for enhanced biological nitrogen fixation, soil health and reduced fertilizer usages.
- Manage the implementation and reporting of assigned research activities, ensuring timely delivery within budget and adherence to milestones.
- Contribute to proposal development, project reports, and dissemination of findings through scientific meetings, workshops, and outreach activities.
- Compile and analyze research findings rigorously, prepare, publish and present high-quality scientific outputs and peer-reviewed publications.
- Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor from time to time
Qualifications
- PhD on the discipline of integrated biological systems, soil science, environmental science, microbiology applied to natural and or cultivated systems, complex biological systems modelling
- At least two (2) years of relevant postdoctoral professional experience in soil microbiology, microbial ecology, or environmental microbiology
Skills Required
Mandatory
- Strong background in soil microbiology, microbial ecology, or environmental microbiology, with demonstrated expertise in studying microbe–plant–soil system.
- Strong understanding of nitrogen cycling processes and their relevance to soil fertility, nutrient management, and sustainable agriculture.
- Experience in microbial characterization and evaluation, particularly of nitrogen-fixing or other beneficial soil microbes.
- Experience with bioinformatics and data analysis tools for handling large metagenomic or microbial community profiling data (e.g., QIIME2, R, Python, or equivalent)
- Familiarity with the use of Machine learning and artificial intelligence tools
- Proven knowledge and practical experience in conducting biological, chemical, and physical analyses
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement laboratory and field experiments integrating microbiological and agronomic components.
- Excellent scientific writing and communication skills, with a record of peer reviewed publications.
- Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Preferred
- Experience with rice
- Work experience in a developing country environment.