Crop Simulation Model Development (Associate Scientist or Scientist Level)

Crop Simulation Model Development

(Associate Scientist or Scientist level)

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)is looking for an innovative and academically well qualified candidate to work within a global wheat research team. The position would be located in Mexico, though extensive travel will be required. The appointment is initially for 3 years, with the opportunity for extension into a career position.

Main Responsibilities:

· Apply dynamic simulation modeling to help unravel unexplained variance in physiological breeding trials conducted by the International Wheat Improvement Network led by CIMMYT.

· Using such models, identify stress adaptive traits in wheat and potential analogue selection sites to help breed new cultivars for less developed countries that are vulnerable to climate change.

· Interact with experienced crop modelers, physiologists and breeders to improve quantitative crop models by integrating stress traits relevant to adaptation to conditions predicted by future climate scenarios.

· Analyze, interpret and publish data.

Skills and experience sought:

· A recent Ph.D. in physical or biological science and knowledge of crop science.

· Expertise in crop simulation modeling and/or crop model development.

· Knowledge of bio statistics and computer programming.

· Fluency in spoken and written English; Spanish language skills an advantage.

· Ability to work well as part of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

· Must be prepared to travel to interact with crop modeling groups worldwide.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT® (www.cimmyt.org), is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. The center works to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems and thus ensure global food security and reduce poverty. The center's outputs and services include improved maize and wheat varieties and cropping systems, the conservation of maize and wheat genetic resources, and capacity building. CIMMYT belongs to and is funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) and also receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks, and other public and private agencies.

CIMMYT has had enormous impact in the developing world. It is the center of excellence for work on two of the three most important food crops in the developing world. Its most famous employee, Dr. Norman Borlaug, is credited by many with saving more lives than any other individual in the history of the world. Borlaug’s work dramatically increased yields of wheat in the Indo-Gangetic plains in the 1960s and 1970s, staving off starvation for hundreds of millions. For this work, Borlaug received the Nobel Prize in 1970. Scores of other CIMMYT efforts have saved or enriched millions of lives, from releasing disease-resistant varieties and varieties resistant to drought and heat and soil deficiencies, to dispersing techniques to reduce farmer costs and post-harvest losses. In developing countries, wheat varieties developed by CIMMYT and its partners cover 75% of the area planted to modern wheat varieties.

CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package paid in US dollars, with a range of benefits including housing allowance, life and health insurance, education allowance (for pre-school, elementary, secondary, and other pre-university grade levels), home leave, retirement fund, and relocation shipping assistance.

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

Apply online no later than June 10^th, 2012.

At www.cimmyt.org, click on “About us – Job Opportunities- Position” -2012-23 Please complete the online application, including your cover letter, competencies and experience for the position, and a detailed CV/resume.

For further information, contact Dr. Reynolds Matthew, Wheat Physiologist, m.reynolds@cgiar.orgor the Human Resources Office, jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.