About the Role
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking a dynamic and dedicated Research Associate in Plant Breeding to join our premier research-for-development team. In this role, you will contribute directly to enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and addressing agricultural challenges across sub-Saharan Africa through cutting-edge crop research.
Key Responsibilities- Conduct field-testing across various stages of breeding lines and populations to evaluate performance.
- Create studies in EBS, collect accurate field data, and upload information in a timely manner.
- Assist in leaf sampling for genotyping and prepare seeds for grain quality and disease resistance screenings.
- Curate, collect, and analyze research data while drafting comprehensive reports and scientific publications.
- Ensure the digitization and barcoding of breeding nurseries, trials, and seed inventories.
- Supervise technical staff and field laborers on a daily basis to maintain operational excellence.
- Contribute to degree and non-degree capacity-building training programs.
- Master of Science (MSc) degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding or a closely related discipline.
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in designing and implementing experimental agricultural research.
- Demonstrated competence in statistical analysis of research data using advanced tools such as R.
- Practical experience in cereal crop breeding, physiology, and marker-assisted breeding or genomic selection.
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills with the ability to thrive in a multicultural environment.
IITA offers a highly competitive remuneration package, attractive benefits, and excellent working conditions within a pleasant, collaborative, and professional campus environment.