Post-Doctoral Fellow or Associate Scientist for Wheat Improvement

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is seeking an enthusiastic plant scientist to join as a post-doctoral fellow/Associate Scientist in the Global Wheat Program. The position offers an outstanding career opportunity for a researcher interested in global wheat research. This position is available initially for 3 years. The main focus of this position is to test and develop heat and drought tolerant spring wheat germplasm with adaptation to early sowing under conservation agricultural practices in wheat growing environments of South Asia along with other important traits such as high yield potential, durable resistance to Ug99 and other rusts and end-use quality. The successful candidate will be based in India. Extensive travel to field sites of collaborating institutions in India will be necessary.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• A recent Ph.D. in genetics or breeding in wheat or other cereals.
• Experience with field based plant breeding and strong aptitude for field-based research, especially for germplasm development and testing.
• Applied knowledge of experimental design, management of field trials, field breeding operations, and data analysis. Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
• Ability to form part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong self-motivation and innovative skills, coupled with interest in international agricultural research and development
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural partnerships and good communications skills.

Experience in any of the following areas would be considered an asset:

• Experience with molecular tools in genetics and breeding
• Experience with conservation agriculture
• Experience with statistical and biometrical packages to analyze multisite performance data.

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 (to Grade 12), home leave, and relocation shipping assistance.

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

Apply online no later than July 29^th, 2012.

At www.cimmyt.org, click on “About us – Job Opportunities- Position” - 2012-34, 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. Ravi Singh, Wheat Breeder, r.singh@cgiar.org or the Human Resources Office, jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.