Associate Scientist, Systems Agronomist Non-profit Jobs – International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Organization: International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda
Ref No: DDG-R4D/AS/SA/01/17
About US:
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a
not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet
Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural
resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa,
we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase
employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR,
a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
Job Summary: The Systems
Agronomist will conduct strategic and applied research at plot, farm, and
landscape levels for the improvement of cropping systems in the target regions.
The successful candidate will work in collaboration with agronomists, crop
breeders, soil scientists, IPM scientists, and social scientists. He/she will
be a member of the IITA Eastern Africa Hub and he/will report to the Senior
System Agronomist and Director of Eastern Africa.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:  
  • Provide
    leadership for interdisciplinary research leading to improved and more
    intensified sustainable cropping systems in Eastern Africa Hub
  • The
    incumbent will design innovative high productive cropping systems
  • Foster
    high quality research in the field of improved agronomy by studying
    associations of crops, plant to plant communication, and plant-soil
    microbiome and plant endophyte communications and their effect on
    improved plant growth and defense
  • Carry
    out high-cutting edge research in the area of improved plant growth
    development and resistance via priming induced by plant-beneficial plant
    microorganisms or other agents
  • Build
    an interdisciplinary research platform whereby plant-environment
    interactions are better understood and used for production involving
    agronomy, soil fertility, plant pathology, and molecular biology
    (epigenetics)
  • Develop
    and extend effective partnerships and collaborative relationships
    with national researchers (at NARES, universities, etc), CGIAR and other
    partners in cross-cutting research, e.g. with CRP-Roots, Tubers and
    Bananas and CCAFS, and researchers at advanced research institutes and to
    represent IITA at scientific conferences
  • The
    incumbent will mentor and backstop graduate students involved in related
    research.
  • Publish
    scientific outputs in peer-reviewed IF journals and others (e.g. technical
    reports, IITA bulletins, or social media and books or book chapters).
  • Significantly
    contribute to resource mobilization through cooperative development
    of concept notes and proposals.
  • Perform
    any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The ideal candidate must hold a Ph.D. in
    agronomy or soil science with complementary experience in at least 2 of
    the following disciplines: plant molecular biology, environmental ecology,
    plant microbiology, plant pathology, and plant biochemistry
  • Proven
    skills in field and interdisciplinary research
  • Willingness
    to combine field with laboratory research
  • Demonstrate
    capability for publications for peer reviewed journals
  • Excellent
    communication and interpersonal skills
  • Willingness
    to travel extensively within the region
  • Ability
    to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural
    environment.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to
apply online at the link below.
Click Here -> Click On (Choose
Associate Scientist, Systems Agronomist)
Deadline: 31st March 2017

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