The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is one of the 15 nonprofit, autonomous, scientific research and training institutes receiving support from donors through the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICRISAT Headquarters is located at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India with regional centres and research teams in Asia and Africa. ICRISAT’s regional programme for East and Southern Africa is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with country offices in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.

ICRISAT’s Regional Program for Eastern and Southern Africa seeks a dynamic individual for the position of Post-doctoral Fellow to participate in the consortia project “Africa’s Biofortified Sorghum” (ABS). The fellowship is for two years and extendable to a third year. The PDF will be based at ICRISAT’s Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya.

The objective of the African Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) project is to develop nutritionally enhanced sorghum cultivars that will deliver essential amino acids –increased lysine and threonine, vitamin A, improved digestibility and increased availability of iron and zinc to African populations that consume sorghum in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The deployment of transgenic sorghums is likely to be met with some trepidation due primarily to the concern that feral transgenic hybrid forms may arise. Data and information based on sound research is needed to assess the extent and impact of spontaneous gene flow among the cultivated-wild-weed complex of the sorghum taxa.

The Job: The person will report to the Project Leader, and be responsible for the day-to-day technical coordination, management and implementation of project activities in accordance to the project log frame and approved work plans to achieve the stipulated milestones in a timely manner. Specifically, the person will conduct research to determine baseline data on issues of gene flow to prepare for the risk/safety assessments on the environment that will be needed when actual GM crops will be presented for regulatory approval. The person will participate in the introgression of ABS traits into the farmer preferred sorghum varieties, carry out farmer participatory multi-location field trials and on-farm demonstrations involving conventional and ABS products; share information with stakeholders especially farmers and policy makers; d ocument and package results to target a wide array of stakeholders ranging from refereed journal articles to policy briefs; prepare and manage annual work plans, and reports together with the ICRISAT project team leader;

The Person: A PhD degree in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Population Genetics or related fields received within the last 3 years. Comprehensive experience in genetic diversity studies using morphological and molecular analyses. Working experience with sorghum or other cereals in the Eastern, Southern and /or Western Africa region will be an added advantage. Knowledge and understanding of environmental risk assessments and gene flow will be essential. Experience in coordinating multi-country research projects and is desirable. Fluency in written and spoken English required, with knowledge of other major languages in Africa will be preferred.

Remuneration: ICRISAT offers a competitive stipend and benefits package that includes international health insurance, housing and car allowances, and appropriate relocation assistance.