: Research Assistant IV – Potato Breeding in CIP

Vacancy Number: A/020/2014
International Potato Centre (CIP-Ethiopia)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: 2 years with the possibility of renewal

The International Potato Center – Ethiopia (CIP) seeks to recruit a Research Assistant IV – Potato Breeding to its CIP-SSA Breeding Program which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia office.

The Center: The International Potato Centre (CIP) is an international non-profit agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct research on potatoes, sweet potatoes, Andean root and tuber crops, and sustainable management of natural resources. CIP’s vision is to contribute from its areas of expertise to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those goals that relate to poverty, hunger, child and maternal mortality, and sustainable development. CIP has its headquarters in Lima, Peru with staff and activities in locations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. CIP is a member of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 60 donor members.

The Region: CIP Sub-Saharan Africa main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. However, the region is served by a diverse team of scientists based throughout East, South and West Africa, and supported by CIP scientists based elsewhere in the world. Potato and sweet potato are growing rapidly in importance in the region. Many technological and institutional challenges remain to be resolved at the country and regional level in order for the crops to contribute to their full potential as a vehicle for Africans to reach the MDGs.

Key Responsibilities:
The Research Assistant IV – Potato Breeding will be based in Addis Ababa and will be a member of the CIP-Ethiopia team. He/she will provide technical support to the CIP-SSA potato breeding program. The Research Assistant IV – Potato Breeding will be in-charge of implementing potato breeding activities: crossing, tuber family generation, clonal selection and evaluation both under field and screen house, organize the production of in-vitro and minitubers as requested by public and private partner institutions, and maintenance of progenitors and working collections. He/she should be committed to using research for development in a complex cooperative environment of research and development partners and work in close collaboration with national researchers and research system. The work may require travels within Ethiopia to federal and regional research stations and farmers field.

• Assists in breeding of high yielding, stress tolerant, nutrient dense potato cultivars to the resource-poor farmers in SSA, in active collaboration with the existing research systems in Ethiopia;
• Conducts the development and execution of screen-house and field-based research to develop potato populations and advanced clones through clonal breeding;
• Assists in the designing and implement crossing block, tuber family generation, clonal selection and field experiments including nursery and trial planting material preparation, and management.
• Assists in selecting best families and clones from different types of crosses, improves population, conducts across location trials and maintain progenitors and breeding stocks;
• Distributes germplasm to partners and maintain record of distribution in the region;
• Analyses data using appropriate software, prepare field book using data collector, stacks data and imports into CIP data management system;
• Supports national program staff and students in field trial management, data management and analysis;
• Document of germplasm evaluation, publication of research findings and prepare report;
• Perform other duties as required

Skills and Competencies

• Applied knowledge in crop breeding and genetics, experimental design, crossing, screen house nursery and field trial management;
• Excellent knowledge of data management and statistical software programs;
• Experience or good knowledge of working screen house, tissue-culture laboratories, aeroponics or hydroponics in terms of construction, technical maintenance and crop management;
• Demonstrated success in working with multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships in research or project implementation;
• Excellent social skills, collaborative style, and ability to multi-task effectively;
• Proactive, innovative and creative attitudes;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required;
• Willingness to travel within the country;
• Ability to write scientific publications;

Education and Experience:

• At least a relevant Master of Science degree or a relevant BSc degree plus a relevant post graduate qualification
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in crop improvement research preferably with clonally propagated crops or potatoes

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Grade: 2D

Minimum Base: Birr 15,262 (Negotiable, depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)

Terms of appointment:  This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for two years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.  Dining and sports facilities are located on site.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: A/020/14 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 11 April 2014. We do not encourage CVs and credentials to be mailed to our postal address.