Research Technician - CIMMYT (Readvertisement) at World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Duties and responsibilities

 Innovation

• Propose and implement agreed improvements in breeding nurseries and seed production and/or multiplication (e.g. speed breeding).

Coordinate experiment creation, trial kit preparation, shipment to various partners, data return

• Ensure entry lists provided by the scientist are created in enterprise database systems, packed, sent to partners, and planted on time.
• Collaborate with trialists and technicians in partner centers and ensure standard trial protocols are followed.
• Coordinate the compilation of trial data from partners and uploading them into enterprise database systems.

 Management of hybrid breeding nurseries and hybrid seed production

• Understand and gain experience in hybrid breeding, hybrid seed production, heterotic pools in sorghum and pearl millet.
• Manage hybrid breeding nurseries including restorer pool population improvement, maintainer pool population improvement, AxB seed production, AxR seed production and BxR testcrossing as needed.
• Ensure nurseries are established on time (timely land prep, planting, fertilizer application etc) planted according to the plot layout.
• Ensure nurseries are well managed (irrigated, weed control, pest and disease control etc) and that there is frequent communication or updates with scientists.
• Manage accurate and timely data collection as specified by the scientists, and ensure accuracy of data entry and consolidation.
• Implement timely digital data capture using the relevant tools (e.g. FieldBook app) and software as identified by the program.
• Ensure protocols (e.g. seed retention, seed amount harvested from nurseries) are followed.

Supervise casual labor

• Manage a team of casual labor at Kiboko to perform activities in the field, screenhouse and seed laboratories.
• Ensure labor team receive the necessary training to perform their tasks.
• Maintain and practice occupational health and safety in the workplace.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist in tissue sample collection for genetic and/or biochemical analysis
• Manage printing of packets, labels, tags and seed inventory
• Establish and maintain contacts with collaborating organizations and partners.

Requirements

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in plant breeding, agricultural science or related fields.
• Minimum two (2) years’ experience in managing agricultural field activities or research projects in a private or public research company/institute.
• NGO experience is NOT a requirement