Plant Breeder, Sweet Potato Non-profit Jobs – International Potato Center (CIP)

Plant Breeder, Sweet Potato Non-profit Jobs – International Potato Center (CIP)

Job Title:    Plant Breeder, Sweet Potato

Organization:  International Potato Center (CIP)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

About US:

CIP, a global CGIAR research center, works with partners to improve diets and incomes of poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America through scientific research, innovation, and capacity strengthening. Focusing on potato and sweetpotato as the entry point, CIP’s programs seek to strengthen broader agri-food systems to generate economic, social and nutritional benefits for farmers, enterprises and consumers emphasizing the priorities of women and youth in particular. CIP’s sweetpotato breeding efforts in Africa have enabled the most successful scaling up of biofortified crops to date, namely OFSP, sweetpotato varieties enriched with provitamin A. In addition, two CIP sweetpotato breeders, Dra. Maria Andrade and Dr. Robert Mwanga, earned the coveted World Food Prize. This is an exciting time to join CIP’s sweetpotato breeding team, as we are modernizing our approaches with the overall objectives of implementing Genomic Prediction approaches, increasing genetic gains and the turnover of varieties in smallholder fields.

 

Job Summary:  The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and innovative Plant Breeder Associate Scientist to lead CIP sweet potato breeding efforts in East Africa, with a main focus on Uganda. This applied research position will be based at the Sweetpotato Support Platform for East Africa (SSP-EA), located in Kampala, Uganda.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

  • Lead implementation of population improvement in East Africa, with a main focus on developing hybrid sweetpotato cultivars, and jointly with molecular breeding scientists, implement Genomic Selection in sweetpotato.
  • Increase, and document rates of genetic gains for key traits and, jointly with seed scientists, turnover of varieties on smallholder farms.
  • Develop and/or update Product Profiles, Product Advancement Process and other technologies developed through Excellence in Breeding.
  • Assist NARS breeders in sweetpotato modernization efforts.
  • Supervise the use of correct data collecting and data management procedures -contribute to the improvement and development of standard operational procedures (SOP)
  • Lead breeding fund raising efforts in East Africa.
  • Work with other CIP and EiB scientists to incorporate market information into breeding plans and prioritized traits.
  • Document scientific progress as papers in renowned scientific journals (Crop Science, Theoretical & Applied Genetics, Field Crops Research).
  • Guide graduate students conducting research in sweetpotato breeding.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

  • The applicant must hold a PhD in Plant breeding, genetics, molecular breeding or related field with at least 3-5 years’ experience in field research. On the ground experience in Africa is desirable;
  • Expertise in quantitative genetics, advanced experimental design, database development and data analysis, interpretation, and reporting;
  • Aptitude for teamwork, and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
  • Familiarity with breeding of clonally propagated crops is desirable, and experience with sweetpotato will be an advantage;
  • Experience with gender approaches in plant breeding is desirable;
  • Willing, and able to travel within Uganda and East Africa

 

Benefits

  • Internationally competitive salary, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience.
  • Comprehensive international insurance coverage.
  • Attractive retirement plan.
  • Three-year term contract with the possibility of renewal.
  • Work in an equal and diverse workplace

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here -> Select Position

 

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