Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow – Tropical Forages and Climate Change
Location: Nairobi
Deadline: 31st December 2012
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) – a member of the CGIAR Consortium – develops
technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially
smallholders, to make agriculture eco-efficient – that is, competitive and profitable as well as
sustainable and resilient. Eco-efficient agriculture reduces hunger and poverty, improves human
nutrition, and offers solutions to environmental degradation and climate change in the tropics
www.ciat.cgiar.org
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15
research centers of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
www.cgiar.org
CIAT’s Tropical Forage Program (TFP) has been developing tropical forage germplasm for the past 35
years through collection, selection and breeding. Forage-based systems are the main agricultural land
use in the tropics and novel forage options have contributed to improved livelihoods of smallholder
farmers while improving natural resource management. The TFP aims for more efficient and sustainable
crop and livestock production while reducing the ecological footprint in the framework of CIAT’s concept
of “Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the Poor”.
CIAT is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow, as part of its Tropical Forages Program, to carry out research on
climate-smart Brachiaria grasses to improve livestock production in smallholder systems in East Africa.
The Position
The Post-doctoral Fellow will focus research on: (i) determining the role of endophytes in improving
adaptation of Brachiaria grasses to drought; and (ii) contribution of stress adapted Brachiaria grasses to
mitigation of climate change. The selected candidate will have responsibility to conduct greenhouse
trials at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia and contribute to collaborative research on field trials with farmers in
East Africa in collaboration with KARI-Kenya, RAB-Rwanda and the Biosciences Eastern and Central
Africa – International Livestock Research Institute Hub (BecA-ILRI Hub), Nairobi, Kenya. The selected
candidate will be part of a team of an innovative program on climate change of BecA (BecA-CIAT-KARIRAB)
supported by funds from Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), which Sweden granted to ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya and TFP of CIAT.
Main responsibilities
• Carry out research to quantify differences among Brachiaria grasses on the following aspects:
shoot and root growth responses to drought stress; role of endophytes in improving drought
resistance and mitigation of climate change (through improved carbon sequestration in soil and
reduced nitrification in soil and nitrous oxide emission to the atmosphere); and contribution to
improve livestock productivity and reduce land degradation.
• Work closely with the team of Sida funded Program and reporting to the Plant
Nutritionist/Physiologist of the TFP of CIAT.
• Work in collaboration with the BecA-ILRI Hub, national partners in Kenya and Rwanda and other
key stakeholders.
To prepare work plans together with collaborators at the BecA-ILRI Hub, KARI (Kenya) and RAB (Rwanda) and annual technical reports to Sida.
To prepare publications and technical bulletins from the Sida funded Program research activities
• To supervise and motivate support personnel to ensure opportune completion of tasks.
Requirements
• Advanced degree (PhD) in Agricultural/Livestock/Environmental Sciences or other related fields.
• Experience in plant adaptation to stressed environments and/or familiarity with measurements of greenhouse gas emissions from soil and plants.
• Familiarity and/or experience with integration of forages into smallholder farming systems in the tropics is desirable.
• Be able to work in a complex, highly dynamic and trans disciplinary work environment, with excellent communication skills.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Thorough knowledge of experimental design and multivariate statistical analysis.
A demonstrated ability to prepare/publish high quality articles meeting international standards.
Terms of employment
The position is globally recruited and will be based at CIAT Head Quarters in Cali, Colombia. The initial contract will be for two years, subject to a probation period of three (3) months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. The position involves significant travel to visit BecA-ILRI and field sites in Kenya and Rwanda (1 to 2 months per year). The position will be moved to CIAT-Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) after 2 years. CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. CIAT is an equal opportunity employer, and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality. Female candidates from Africa, Latin America and Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applications
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. All correspondence should be addressed to the CIAT Human Resources Office to Catalina Montoya (c.m.ruiz@cgiar.org ) and should clearly indicate “Postdoctoral Fellow – Tropical Forages and Climate Change” on their application letters or email submissions. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Closing date for applications: 31 December 2012
We invite you to learn more about us at:
http://www.ciat.cgiar.org http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ourprograms/Agrobiodiversity/forages/Pages/forages.aspx
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