Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Cowpea Host Plant Resistance Entomologist (Ref No: DDG-R4D/PRF/CHPRE/07/15)

Background:

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Cowpea Host Plant Resistance Entomologist.

IITA is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research-for-development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. It is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.

Cowpea is one of the six important African food crops on which IITA carries out research towards enhancing their productivity leading to increased availability to consumers and then income and food security. A number of abiotic and biotic stresses still depress the yield of cowpea in sub-Saharan African farmers’ fields. Genetic improvement through exploiting the diversity existing in the more than 15,000 germplasm lines maintained by the institute has the potential to ameliorate the adverse effects of many of these yield limiting factors, with particular focus on insect pests. IITA requires a postdoctoral entomologist in host plant resistance.

Position Responsibilities:

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to delivering the IITA/Monsanto cowpea project milestones under direct supervision of the Project Leader. More specifically, he/she will:

• Establish efficient field and laboratory screening methodologies for identifying resistance to key insect pests of cowpea.
• Identify cultivated and cross compatible wild cowpea genotypes with insect pest resistance.
• Study the basis for key insect resistance mechanisms in cowpea and participate in the development of improved cowpea cultivars and populations resistant to key insect pests in collaboration with the Principal Cowpea Breeder.
• Provide guidance and direction to research associates, field technicians, and postgraduate students.
• Contribute to resource mobilization and strengthening of NARS partners’ capacity in host plant resistance breeding.
• Ready to travel in project countries which include Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.

Educational Qualifications
The candidate should have a PhD degree in entomology or related field.

Core Competencies:

• Experience in conducting host plant resistance research activities (preferably involving grain legumes).
• Experience in application of molecular tools in entomology research
• Good publishing skills in quality scientific journals.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Information management skills and competence in computer software used to manage breeding programs, establish trials and analyze results.
• Excellent spoken and written English; ability to communicate in French is important.

Duty station: Kano, Nigeria.

General information: The contract will be for an initial period of two years with possibility of renewal based on performance and continued availability of funding. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Applications:

Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers

Closing Date: 3rd September 2015

IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.