Research Assistant Job Vacancy


About our Organisation

CIMMYT is committed to improving livelihoods in developing countries. 

Through strong science and effective partnerships, we create, share, and use knowledge and agricultural technologies to increase food security, improve the productivity and profitability of farming systems, and sustain natural resources in developing countries.  

CIMMYT is an international non-profit research and training center with direct links to about 100 developing countries through offices in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

We participate in an extensive global network of people and organizations who share similar development goals, including the public and private sector, non-governmental and civil society organizations, relief and health agencies, farmers, and the development assistance community.

The Position

Research Assistant 

The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Global Conservation Agriculture Program (CIMMYT-GCAP), and will be based at ICRAF   HUYE (Butare)-Rwanda offices. 

The research assistant will play a key role in a large multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team. 

The selected candidate will interact closely with ICRAF’s research team in Rwanda and CIMMYT’s team in Ethiopia and Kenya, and will work closely with advanced research institutes ( ICRAF and CIMMYT), national research and extension programs (RAB), national universities (NUR), NGOs, and private sector stakeholders in Rwanda.

Depending on the selected candidate’s motivation, he/she may be supported to complete a PhD from the research carried.

Primary responsibilities include:
  • Develop research protocols in collaboration with national programs and universities, and other partner advance research institutes
  • Set up and supervise trials based on the protocols developed
  • Collect data on crop and tree productivity, soil parameters and climatic parameters.
  • Analyze data generated from trials
  • Supervise field staff
  • Explore the wider significance of results through crop modelling
  • Communicate research results to diverse communities, including scientists, change agents, policy makers and farmers
  • Provide practical training for local researchers and extension agents on trials management and measurement of ecophysilogical parameters
  • Collaborate with ICRAF’s researcher in Rwanda and CIMMYT’s researcher in Ethiopia and Kenya
  • Attend and participate in project meetings, stakeholder workshops, and other events
  • Adhere  to ICRAF human resource  principles
  • Capacity to join ICRAF and CIMMYT team for funds mobilisation for the project
  • Skill to write a paper for publication in peer review journals
Requirements:
  • MSc in agriculture, soil science, ecophysiology, or a related field
  • At least 2 (two) years of experience in field agronomy with a relevant organization
  • Practical experience in conducting on-farm trials
  • Practical experience with measurement of soil water (using TDR or neutron probes), crop NDVI, canopy temperature, etc.
  • Excellent analytical/quantitative skills
  • Strong background in statistics/biometrics
  • Good working knowledge of crop growth models (DSSAT, APSIM) and optimization software (e.g. GAMS) would be a plus
  • Peer-review publication record would be a plus
  • Good communication (in written and spoken English), interpersonal skills and organizational skills
  • Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary/multi-cultural team on trans-disciplinary issues
  • Ability to effectively work with minimum supervision.
  • Willingness to travel frequently
  • Valid Rwanda driver’s license.
How to apply

Applications for the position must include:
  • A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position against the listed requirements and salary expectations
  • A detailed curriculum vitae
  • A copy of your MSc thesis
  • The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, fax numbers and email addresses.
All correspondence should be addressed to the Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) via email: icrafhru@cgiar.org and should indicate “Application for Research Assistant - CIMMYT” on their application letters and email submissions. 

A summary of the MSc thesis should be attached to the application. 

Applications will be considered until 19 January 2013.

Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and ICRAF by accessing our web sites www.cimmyt.org andwww.worldagroforestry.org