ILRI - DAAD PhD Graduate fellowship: Climate Smart Interventions to improve fodder quality and quantity at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Job description

The Position

The potential candidate will carry out an agronomic experiment focusing on specific - sustainable and easy to achieve - interventions to improve fodder yields and fodder quality. The experiment will be linked and fully complementary to an existing animal feeding trial and evaluate additional options that aim at not only improving yields but also at reducing negative environmental consequences and the improvement of overall soil fertility.

ILRI Program: Sustainable Livestock Systems

Main ILRI Project Title: In situ assessment of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from two livestock systems in East Africa – determining current status and quantifying mitigation options

Graduate fellows project title: Climate Smart Interventions to improve fodder quality and quantity

CGIAR Research Program (CRP) linkage: Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security

Key Responsibilities

• Carrying out in-situ measurements of GHG emissions from five different forage trials and replicates on ILRI Nairobi farm. Measurements include GHG emissions, soil fertility, forage yields and forage quality.
• Statistically analyze the results and publish these in peer-reviewed journals.
• To contribute and synthesize the knowledge into follow-up experiments as well as to assist in transferring the gained knowledge into practice.

Requirements

• MSc in agronomy, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences or related disciplines
• Experience with GHG emission measurement in the field is a must
• Statistical skills such as experience with Microsoft Excel is expected, other knowledge in statistical software’s such as R or python is beneficial
• Excellent English skills in oral and written form
• An effective and energetic team player with the ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work independently, multi-task and meet tight deadlines.
• The applicant must be a citizen of a country in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The Master’s degree must have been completed less than six years ago at the time of application