Associate Scientist - Plant Breeding

About IRRI

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization 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

Identify, design, develop, document, and manage the execution of new and innovative breeding strategies to support the Hybrid Rice Breeding program. Align with external project partners and collaborators (e.g. NRRP-NARC, local and national government units etc.) to identify constraints, needs and opportunities, research scope, material transfer and data exchange to ensure efficiency of the research operations.

This position will be based at Hardinath, Nepal and will be filled in by the permanent citizens of Nepal. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify, design, develop, document, and manage the execution of new and innovative breeding strategies to support the Hybrid Rice Breeding program as well as the other cross-cutting services within the Institute
• Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain pipelines that ensure the efficient execution of core breeding activities such as seed inventory management, phenotypic data collection, and the organization of breeding data to ensure smooth flow of processes and information
• Plan, design and manage the implementation of scientific experiments targeted at improving the efficiency of the hybrid breeding program and making data driven recommendations for improved breeding workflows
• Develop research proposals including review of related literature, selection of adequate research tools and equipment, verification of suggested methodologies and establishment of parameters for the monitoring and evaluation of project milestones
• Prepare and assist in the annual and half yearly reports to the funding agencies
• Align with external project partners and collaborators (e.g. NRRP-NARC, local and national government units etc.) to identify constraints, needs and opportunities, research scope, material transfer and data exchange to ensure efficiency of the research operations
• Work closely with IRRI-Hyderabad Breeding Hub, and B4R development team, etc.) to ensure proper communication of research needs and objectives and identifying common ground that maintains the quality of research outputs
• Supervise, coordinate, monitor and provide feedback and performance appraisals to contract workers and research staff to ensure that SOPs and guidelines are followed and research objectives are met
• Actively provide training, operational support and guidance to researchers, scholars and trainees
• In close collaboration and direct consultation with the Hybrid Rice Breeding group, develop research strategy documentation that would serve as a guide to support the day-to-day operations of the research program (i.e. SOPs for core breeding activities/workflows)
• Ensure the genetic purity of the hybrid rice breeding materials shared from the IRRI HQ and their proper maintenance in a safe and secure manner
• Analyze data using appropriate and advance statistical tools and provide recommendations that would further the research
• Ensure thorough and accurate documentation by maintaining B4R/EBS studies and as necessary storing and data-basing additional information for easy retrieval and analysis.
• Summarize research findings and write reports, scientific papers, articles, posters for presentations in local and international conferences, workshops, training etc.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics or other related fields and 1 year relevant work experience in an applied plant breeding program, or,
• Master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics related discipline and/or 3 years of relevant work experience, or,
• Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics related discipline and/or 5-7 years of relevant work experience

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Has proven technical proficiency in conducting research
• Has experience contributing to research publications, presentations or reports
• Has excellent critical thinking skills
• Is objective and results oriented, assessing scientific research for both quality and content
• Is familiar with Risk management
• Has experience with Research management

Preferred

• Experience in managing field trials
• Phenotyping experience
• Experience managing and interpreting genotype data
• Data analysis using advanced statistical tools
• Advance data management skills

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances. Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.