Plant Breeder-Sweetpotato (20-93)

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and innovative Plant Breeder Associate Scientist to lead CIP sweetpotato breeding efforts in East Africa, with a main focus on Uganda.

About CIP’s program:
CIP, a global CGIAR research center, works with partners to improve diets and incomes of poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America through scientific research, innovation, and capacity strengthening. Focusing on potato and sweetpotato as the entry point, CIP’s programs seek to strengthen broader agri-food systems to generate economic, social and nutritional benefits for farmers, enterprises and consumers emphasizing the priorities of women and youth in particular. CIP’s sweetpotato breeding efforts in Africa have enabled the most successful scaling up of biofortified crops to date, namely OFSP, sweetpotato varieties enriched with provitamin A. In addition, two CIP sweetpotato breeders, Dra. Maria Andrade and Dr. Robert Mwanga, earned the coveted World Food Prize. This is an exciting time to join CIP’s sweetpotato breeding team, as we are modernizing our approaches with the overall objectives of implementing Genomic Prediction approaches, increasing genetic gains and the turnover of varieties in smallholder fields.

About the position:
This applied research position will be based at the Sweetpotato Support Platform for East Africa (SSP-EA), located in Kampala, Uganda.

Key responsibilities:
• Lead implementation of population improvement in East Africa, with a main focus on developing hybrid sweetpotato cultivars, and jointly with molecular breeding scientists, implement Genomic Selection in sweetpotato.
• Increase, and document rates of genetic gains for key traits and, jointly with seed scientists, turnover of varieties on smallholder farms.
• Develop and/or update Product Profiles, Product Advancement Process and other technologies developed through Excellence in Breeding.
• Assist NARS breeders in sweetpotato modernization efforts.
• Supervise the use of correct data collecting and data management procedures -contribute to the improvement and development of standard operational procedures (SOP)
• Lead breeding fund raising efforts in East Africa.
• Work with other CIP and EiB scientists to incorporate market information into breeding plans and prioritized traits.
• Document scientific progress as papers in renowned scientific journals (Crop Science, Theoretical  & Applied Genetics, Field Crops Research).
• Guide graduate students conducting research in sweetpotato breeding.

Who are we looking for?
• PhD in Plant breeding, genetics, molecular breeding or related field with at least 3-5 years’ experience in field research. On the ground experience in Africa is desirable;
• Expertise in quantitative genetics, advanced experimental design, database development and data analysis, interpretation, and reporting;
• Aptitude for teamwork, and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;

• Familiarity with breeding of clonally propagated crops is desirable, and experience with sweetpotato will be an advantage;
• Experience with gender approaches in plant breeding is desirable;
• Willing, and able to travel within Uganda and East Africa.

What are we offering?
• Exciting career opportunity in an international organization.
• Internationally competitive salary, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive international insurance coverage.
• Attractive retirement plan.
• Three-year term contract with the possibility of renewal.
• Work in an equal and diverse workplace.

How to apply?
Visit the following link: http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ and submit your cover letter and a full C.V. with your references. Screening of applications will begin on January 4th, 2021 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.