International
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
POST: Junior Professional Officer
Specialist (Sorghum Breeding)
CLOSING DATE:
29th July 2012
I General information
TITLE: Specialist (Sorghum Breeding)
SECTOR OF
ASSIGNMENT:
Breeding
COUNTRY:Mali
LOCATION (CITY): Bamako
AGENCY:International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
DURATION OF
ASSIGNMENT:Initially
one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years
GRADE:P1 step 1 or P2 step 1 in the
first year, depending on the level of education and relevant working experience
Note : this post is opened in the
context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the
Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to people with the
Dutch nationality. For criteria see the website of the Dutch Ministry of
Foreign Affairs:
II Duties,
responsibilities and Output Expectations
General
A decade of collaborative
breeding research by ICRISAT and the Malian Insitute d’Economie Rural has
developed the first series of sorghum hybrid parental-lines based on adapted
Guinea-race germplasm. This first set of sorghum hybrids have shown 40% grain
yield advantage over the best local varieties across a range of
farmer-management conditions in extensive on-farm testing. However, broadening
the genetic base and clearer definition and establishment of distinct parental
pools is necessary to make sorghum hybrids a viable and sustainable commercial
success. The specialist will join the ICRISAT-Bamako sorghum breeding team.
She/he will contribute to hybrid development research, with emphasis on hybrid
parent development and testing. The results and breeding material developed
will contribute directly to the ICRISAT/NARS collaborative endeavor for sorghum
improvement in West and Central Africa.
1. Responsibility 1
(40% time)
Summary of duties
and expected output
Field experiment planning and
installation (30%)
Field operations and
observations for crossing, backcrossing, fertility reaction determination (30%)
Phenotyping for key agronomic
traits (20%)
Data management and analysis
(20%)
2. Responsibility 2
(30% time)
Summary of duties
and expected output
Creation of new variability
(random-mating population and bi-parental crossing to diversify maturity to
combine Guinea-race grain characteristics for quality food and feed use and
reduced plant height) (50%)
Test crossing, back crossing
and combining ability testing to develop new seed-parent A/B pairs (50%)
3. Responsibility 3
(30% time)
Summary of duties
and expected output
Collaborating with National
Programs and Farmer Organizations to create and test experimental hybrids under
targeted environmental conditions to identify hybrids for commercial production
(40%)
Determination of heterotic
pools for Guinea-race sorghum hybrids (30%)
Use of genetic-diversity
information from molecular-genetic studies, testing and confirmation of
heterotic pools (30%)
III Learning
elements and expectations
The JPO learning programme
includes the following elements:
The candidate will gain
experience in applied hybrid breeding and a wide range of field research
techniques. The specialist will participate in all planning meetings of the
research team, seminars, scientific workshops and symposia. S/he will be
requested to prepare and give seminars on topics of her/his own work as well as
integrating other researchers’ results/information on hybrid development. In
addition, the incumbent will participate in stakeholders meetings, integrating
issues related to hybrid development into the research strategy.
Upon completion of the assignment
the JPO will have/ will be able to
Knowledge and expertise on
major issues involved in sorghum hybrid development
Experience in working in a
multidisciplinary and multicultural research team including NARS Scientists and
other Stakeholders.
Extensive knowledge of breeding
and writing scientific articles and reports
IV Supervision
Title of
supervisor:
Principal Scientist (Sorghum
Breeding and Genetic Resources)
Content and
methodology of supervision
Immediate supervisor and the
Director, West and Central Africa will supervise the Specialist. Evaluation
will take place each year. The candidate will be asked to fill a standard
performance evaluation form of ICRISAT. The supervisor will discuss with the
candidate about the activities, achievements and constraints in carrying out
the agreed activities. The specialist will participate in all planning meetings
of the research team, seminars, scientific workshops and symposia. He/she will
be requested to prepare and give seminars on topics of his/her own work as well
as integrating other researcher’s results/information on technology. In
addition, the incumbent will participate in stakeholders meetings, integrating
issues related to technology transfer into the research strategy.
V Required
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Master degree in Agriculture
Working experience
:
Preferably 2 to maximal 4 years
relevant working experience, including internships and voluntary work.
Languages:
Fluency in English is essential
and knowledge of French and any other African languages will be an
advantage.
Key competencies
Extensive knowledge of plant
breeding
Statistics/quantitative
genetics; Use and interpretation of molecular genetic
Data management and ability to
analyse research results
Self-motivated and analytical;
Team worker
Scientific articles and reports
writing
VI Background
information on Agency/Department/Section
The International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a non-profit, non-political
organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and
sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. It
belongs to the Consortium of Centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICRISAT is headquartered in
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, with two regional hubs one each for East and
Central Africa at Nairobi, Kenya and West and Central Africa at Bamako, Mali
and four country offices at Niger, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe in Sub-Saharan
Africa. ICRISAT staff collaborates closely with NARES, sister IARCs, ARIs, NGOs
and private sector organizations. Please visit our website: www.ICRISAT.ORG
VII Information on
living conditions at Duty Station
Living conditions in Bamako, Mali
are good. Housing is comfortable and secure and there is plenty of opportunity
for shopping, recreation, sport and dining out. There are good international
air travel connections to Europe and elsewhere in Africa and telephone,
internet and email facilities are available both at the ICRISAT-Samanko
Regional Hub. The research facilities are good with a number of other
institutions co-located at the research station. Medical, dental and primary
education facilities are available locally. French is the official language and
knowledge of French is helpful for interacting with national program partners.
VIII How to apply
Applications including curriculum
vitae (giving contact address with email Id, date of birth, nationality,
marital status – if married with spouse and children details), list of
publications, and names and addresses of three referees should be sent to Human
Resources, ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502 324, India, by email to:
icrisatjobs@cgiar.org before 29th July 2012.
Applicants will receive
acknowledgement of receipt of their submission. Only shortlisted candidates
will be contacted.
