Job Title: Research Associate
Organization: International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA)
Duty Station:
Wakiso, Uganda
Reports to: Banana
Breeder
About US:
The International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the 15 Institutes of the
CGIAR global research partnerships with headquarters in Ibadan Nigeria. IITA is
a nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees and has a permanent
office in Uganda. IITA focused primarily on improving cassava and banana-based
systems in the nineties. The research focus over the past 5-10 years has
expanded to include research on: climate change, trade-off analysis for
smallholder livelihoods, Innovation systems and impact pathways, and
Institutional and policy dimensions from local to national level.
Job Summary: IITA Uganda is seeking to recruit a qualified
Ugandan, for the position of Research Associate for Accelerated Breeding of
Better Bananas (ABBB) project based at Sendusu – Namulonge station. The
successful candidate will be part of the Banana breeding team working on
Pathology activities within the breeding program.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: The primary duties of the Research Associate
will include the following;
·
Actively
contribute to implementation of field, screen house and laboratory experiments
on banana pests and diseases
·
Manage
the isolation, identification and conservation of culture collection for the
pests and pathogens.
·
Setting
up experiments for evaluating Black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt, Banana bacterial
wilt, banana weevils, and banana nematodes.
·
Collect,
clean, organize and analyze data from field, screenhouse and lab experiments
·
Management
and maintenance of laboratory equipment, materials, reagents with adherence to
standard practices and protocols.
·
Management,
coordination and supervision of technicians.
·
Resource
mobilization focusing on writing proposals for funding.
·
Writing
reports and manuscripts.
·
Any
other duties as may be assigned by supervisor.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
·
The
applicant must hold an Msc degree with specialization in Plant Pathology and 5
years relevant working experience, in similar responsibility.
·
Experience
in working with not for profit Organizations.
·
Ability
in research data analysis and interpreted them to contribute toward report
writing
·
Experience
in Resource mobilization focusing on writing proposals for funding.
·
Knowledge
and experience working on Field and laboratory Research
·
Experience
in handling Lab consumables and supplies
·
Ability
to verify Lab stocks of inventory both on shelf and cold chain
·
Wide
knowledge of working with Lab equipment
·
Excellent
communication skills in English, both written and oral
·
Computer
proficiency including MS Office (Word/ PowerPoint, excel)
·
Ability
to complete multiple tasks under pressure and work in a multi-cultural team
environment
How to Apply:
All candidates
should send their applications which must include covering letter, photocopies
of academic documents, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees,
and a letter from each referee, should be sent online, addressed to: The
Country Representative, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
– Uganda. P.O Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda. Please indicate the job you are applying
for on the subject line. NB: Because of
the high numbers of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted.
Deadline: 11th December 2020.
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