The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is seeking a highly qualified Postdoctoral fellow in Agriculture and climate change to be based at AfricaRice, Bouaké.
About AfricaRice
AfricaRice is a CGIAR Research Center – part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future. It is also an intergovernmental association of African member countries.
The Center was created in 1971 by 11 African countries. Today its membership comprises 26 countries, covering West, Central, East and North African regions, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Uganda. AfricaRice headquarters is based in Côte d’Ivoire.
Staff members are located in Côte d’Ivoire and also in AfricaRice Research Stations in Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.
Responsibilities
The incumbent will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team to sustain and improve the productivity of rice-based systems in Africa in line with AfricaRice’s mission and mandate. S/he will lead activities on developing climate-smart rice technologies to contribute to local adaptation and evaluation and assess the technologies’ potential for diffusion at large scale in Burkina-Faso. The successful candidate will report to the Project Coordinator and to the Leader of the Sustainable Productivity Enhancement program.
Specific tasks include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Evaluate water-harvesting capacities of Smart valleys approach and its impact on rice yields and farmers’ income;
- Analyze water saving potentials of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and its impacts on greenhouse gas emission, rice phenology, weed pressure and soil salinity;
- Analyze boundaries conditions for large-scale adoption of Smart valleys and AWD technologies by rice farmers in Burkina Faso;
- Support and contribute to training of students and post‐master fellows;
- Participate in professional meetings;
- Publish research results in peer‐reviewed, high impact factor journals and produce policy briefs;
- Develop annual research and project proposals, work plans and budgets in consultation with the Program Leader, the Project Coordinator and Team members;
- Provide administrative support to the Project Coordinator, including budget verification, communication, preparation of contracts, preparation of annual reports, etc.;
- Collaborate with other scientists in team –based research projects;
- Contribute to AfricaRice’s resource mobilization efforts;
- Undertake any other duties as required by the needs of the center.
Qualifications/Selection Criteria
Education: a PhD degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Climate Change;
Work Experience: excellent background in climate change mitigation issues and options through soil and water management; expertise in the areas of inland valleys development and irrigation systems; field experience in both qualitative and quantitative research; excellent knowledge of statistical tools and packages for data analysis; excellent publication record; knowledge in crop modelling; work experience in Africa
Language
The candidate should communicate fluently (orally and in writing) in English or French with a good working knowledge of the other language.
Terms and Conditions
o This is an internationally recruited position.
o AfricaRice provides an attractive international salary and benefits package and a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment.
o The initial appointment is for three years with the possibility for renewal. The normal retirement age for internationally recruited staff at AfricaRice is 65.
HOW TO APPLY:
Application procedure
Expressions of interest (a full CV in MS Word format + supporting statement) including the names and addresses (telephone / fax / email) of three referees should be submitted online at the following address: https://africarice-cand.talent-soft.com/accueil.aspx.
Applications will be considered until Monday, February 20, 2017.
AfricaRice is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that staff diversity promotes excellence in our operations and particularly welcome qualified applications from women, people living with disabilities and developing countries.
AfricaRice thanks all applicants but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.AfricaRice.org
