Senior Scientist – Sorghum Improvement

ICRISAT is seeking applications from a dynamic and highly innovative Cereal Breeder to work in sorghum improvement in a multi-disciplinary team comprising both biological and social scientists. The Scientist will be based at ICRISAT Matopos Research Station in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The position is within the East & Southern Africa Research Program. It will report administratively to the Regional Programme Director – ESA and functionally to the Regional Breeding Lead.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. ICRISAT and its partners help empower those living in the semi-arid tropics, especially smallholder farmers, to overcome poverty, hunger, malnutrition and a degraded environment through more efficient and profitable agriculture.

ICRISAT is headquartered in Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and five country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT, established in 1972, is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. For more details, see www.icrisat.org. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the ICRISAT’s research on sorghum breeding targeting ESA countries, to improve sorghum productivity and income generation for smallholders in the region
• Optimise the genetic gain model in order to deliver higher rates of genetic gain
• Apply contemporary plant breeding techniques to create a solid and sound sorghum breeding pipeline. Improvement plans should include but not limited to development of product profiles, breeding scheme optimisation, use of genotyping, automation, mechanization, use of appropriate breeding software
• Participate in a cross-functional multi-disciplinary design team to create product profiles that deliver added value based on customer demands, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders and key players in seed systems to ensure impact
• Deliver strategic direction and substantially contribute to the strategic thinking and planning of the research agenda, future directions and seed delivery systems
• Work with an interdisciplinary team of scientists, including molecular geneticists, pathologists, entomologists, agronomists, socio-economists, seed systems specialists and technology transfer experts from ICRISAT both at Headquarter and in the East and Southern Africa Region, National Agricultural Research Institutes and development partners
• Analyse, summarize and interpret the data of the experiments conducted
• Prepare reports and research papers for publication in the reputed journals.
• Lead project development, control the budget, time management and resource mobilization for ICRISAT and partners involved in sorghum improvement and associated crop management in Southern Africa.
• Contribute to the sorghum R4D agenda and the development of strategic partnerships.
• Enhance capacity building of partners in the region through demonstrations, degree and non-degree training.

The Person:

Essential

• PhD degree in genetics and/or plant breeding with 5 years or more post-doctoral experience in crop breeding research, with an interest in both hands-on applications and development-oriented research.
• Experience with variety development and release of improved products, including sound knowledge of recurrent population improvement, hybrid breeding procedures and effective seed dissemination.
• Knowledge of quantitative genetics for optimizing selection programs, refining heterotic grouping and performing combining ability analyses.
• Knowledge of molecular marker applications for improving selection efficiency and enhancing targeted use of genetic diversity in the breeding program
• Statistical skills, knowledge of computer applications and software for data collection, management and analysis
• Strong project management ability and interpersonal skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English

Desirable

• Working experience with sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet or other cereals
• Respectable publication record, as evidenced by research papers in refereed journals
• Experience in working with a wide range of Stakeholders and interest to work in interdisciplinary team, and knowledge of Eastern and Southern Africa
• Aptitude to work collegially and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural environments.

General:

This is an Internationally Recruited position for three years, renewable based on the performance of the incumbent and the institute’s continuing need for the position.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 22 March 2020, with latest Curriculum Vitae, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer