Background: The International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the position of Post-Doctoral
Fellow for Improvement of Cassava Processing Efficiency.
IITA is an international non-profit research-for-development
(R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and
supported primarily by the CGIAR. Our R4D is anchored on the development needs
of sub-Saharan Africa. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to
tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing
crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture. We have
more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and
900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa. Please
visit http://www.iita.org/ for
more information on IITA. RTB is a CGIAR Research Program on Root, Tubers and
Bananas involving four CGIAR Centers (IITA, Bioversity, CIP and CIAT) and
CIRAD.
Position description:
The post doctoral fellow
will serve as part of the RTB project team to improvement the efficiency of
cassava processing. The general objective of the position is to develop a
multi-objective model to predict the performance of peelers and driers of cassava
roots under different scales of production and operating conditions. The model
will include technical (energy efficiency, products quality), economic
(operating costs, investment costs) and environmental criteria (carbon
footprint, use of renewable energies). To this end, the post-doctoral fellow
will manage the following activities:
- Interact
with the RTB project team to build a database of machinery used for
cassava processing especially peelers and driers (literature review).
- Characterize
the performance of selected peelers and driers, based on experimental
trials and surveys.
- Develop
physical models predicting the technical performance of selected drying
operations (e.g. flash drying, tunnel drying, etc.).
- Develop
a multi-objective model of selected drying operations, including
technical, economic and environmental criteria.
- Adapt
existing tools for multi-objective optimization to peeling, drying and
other operations for cassava in collaboration with the RTB project team.
- Interact
with a team of consumer preference experts to analyze effects of changes
in process technologies on consumer acceptance of products from
processing.
- Communicate
the results in the form of reports, peer-reviewed publications and oral
presentations at conferences or seminars.
- Any other
duties as may be assigned by the supervisor
Educational Qualifications
PhD in Agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering,
process engineering or related field with specialized skill in post harvest
technologies and evaluation of drying systems.
Core Competencies:
- Modeling
of unit operations and/or processes
- Energy
balance analysis in evaluation of post harvest machinery
- Matlab
or other modeling software
- Simulation
of drying systems using CFD for process optimization
- Experience
in pilot-scale experimental trials
- English
language essential (spoken and written)
- Previous
experience of post harvest engineering work in Africa or Asia is desirable
- Ability
to integrate and work with a diverse team (culture, language) based in
several countries is appreciated.
Duty station: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but will
involve extensive travel in Africa, Asia and Latin America
General information: Initial appointment is for
two years. IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.
Applications: Applications including covering
letter, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees should be
addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online
application form using this link:http://www.iita.org/irs-online-application
Closing Date: 15th December 2013 or until a
suitable candidate is found.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly
welcomes applications from women candidates.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be
contacted.
