Recruitment for Senior Genetic Resource Scientist at ICARDA

ICARDA

Senior Genetic Resource Scientist

International Recruited Position (P Level)

POST: Senior Genetic Resource Scientist

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The major focus of this position is to curate ICARDA’s food and forage legume genetic resource collection of chickpea, lentil, faba bean, lathyrus, Vicia and pea accessions with a view to expanding and improving their international dissemination and their utilization in an agricultural context. Key activities include gap analysis of the collection and taking measures to fill those gaps, applying best practices for conservation, seed regeneration, identifying useful traits within the collection and improving the phenotypic and molecular characterization of the collection whilst improving the quality and availability of accession level information to the user community. The broader focus is to design and implement efficient strategies to mine genebanks for useful traits by continuing the development of the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIGS) and investigating TILLING and EcoTILLING strategies as well as contributing to the development of global information systems such as Grin-Global and Genesys.

The position also entails facilitating the implementation of ex-situ and in-situ conservation and utilization strategies.

ABOUT ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research center based in Aleppo, Syria, supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). We are committed to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through agricultural research, and the equitable use and conservation of natural resources. For more details: www.icarda.org

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

·         Maintain the collection of food legumes in a viable state with adequate seeds for distribution upon demand.

·         Apply best practices for regeneration and processing to storage of food legume accessions.

·         Maintain an agro-morphological characterization program (international descriptors) for the food legume collection.

·         Develop collaborative programs to evaluate the legume material for useful traits.

·         Update the GRS database with characterization and evaluation information.

·         Identify eco-geographic gaps in the ICARDA food legume collection and take measures to fill the gaps through acquisitions or collecting missions.

·         Respond to genebank user requests for genetic resources by identifying user defined trait specific best-bet subsets of genetic resources (legumes + cereals) using FIGS type analyses applied to accession level information.

·         Maintain Rhizobium collection.

·         Undertake research aimed at improving the FIGS methodology and contribute to developing appropriate tools to semi-automate germplasm selection for specific traits.

·         Provide technical backstopping and training to National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) on all aspects of genetic resource conservation and utilization.

·         Contribute to regional and international genetic resources networking and collaboration.

·         Publishing genetic resource work in ISI-journals and other publications.

·         Develop project funding proposals to support the genetic resource focused research and development undertaken by the section.

·         Contribution to other duties assigned by the head of GRS, or BIGM program director.

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

·         A PhD in biology, plant breeding or related areas.

·         Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a related field.

·         In depth knowledge and experience of the principles of genetic resources conservation and utilization.

·         Good grasp of data processing and data management technologies.

·         In depth knowledge of statistics.

·         Proven track record at developing project proposals and securing funding.

·         Experience of molecular techniques will be an added advantage.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT, SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is an International Recruited Position (IRS).

The initial contract will be for 3 years, renewable based on performance. For more details: Terms of Appointment-P Level

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply online at www.icarda.org/iea/ by 1 October 2011.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from women.

Applications will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

FOR DETAILS, PLEASE REFER http://www.icarda.org/iea/