Biometrician at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Ref: DDG-R4D/B/01/19
Location: Ibadan, Oyo.

Job Summary
IITA’s research-for-development work comprises the following five domains: biotechnology and genetic improvement, plant production and plant health management, natural resources management, social science and agribusiness, and food and nutrition sciences. Several scientists in these domains contribute in various ways to the development and deployment of new varieties of banana, cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam to meet the requirements of key value chains. IITA seeks a highly motivated biometrician with about eight years of post-PhD experience in working with crop improvement and other agricultural programs to join this team.

Position Responsibilities
The tasks of the Biometrician will include:

• Investigate, analyse, and evaluate complex statistical and computational problems in plant breeding, genetics, and agricultural sciences.
• Work with IITA plant breeders in the modernization of breeding programs for enhanced genetic gain particularly with respect to the development and deployment of state of the art biometrical, quantitative genetics, genomic prediction, and statistical tools for experimental design and analysis.
• Develop the provision of biometrics support within IITA and enhance the capacity of IITA staff and students to utilize advanced biometrical tools in plant breeding, genetics, and agricultural sciences.
• Work with plant breeders and scientists in allied disciplines to mobilize resources for modernization of plant breeding programs with statistical, computational and scientific expertise.
• Contribute to genetic improvement plans for individual crops (priority setting, design of research studies, spatial analysis, exploitation of large data sets to predict future performance, statistical analysis, interpretation and communication of results) and to institutional arrangements in support of plant breeding and allied sciences.
• Work with the Excellence in Breeding Platform of the CGIAR to strengthen support to IITA breeders and to NARS partners in the areas of biometrics and statistical genomics.
• Contribute to publications, and documentation of new data analysis tools and algorithms on breeding methodologies and breeding progress.
• Contribute to supervision of PhD and MSc students.
• Assist and advise IITA management on requirements for strengthened biometrics research and support. 

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should hold a PhD in Biometrics, Statistics or related area of Science.

Core Competencies

• Experience in:
  • Data archiving and retrieval, quantitative and statistical genetics, and latest genomics tools with applications to plant breeding or agricultural sciences in the public or private sector
  • Using and developing modern approaches to the design, quality control, and data analysis of trials in the field, laboratories, and plant growth facilities
  • Quantitative genetics and application of molecular marker technologies to plant breeding - using and developing modern approaches to analyse complex multivariate phenotypic and genotypic data with applications to genetic improvement of annual seed, clonally propagated, and polyploid crops
  • Implementation and training in use of relevant software including R for statistical analysis. 
• Track record of peer reviewed publications.
• Success in resource mobilization as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Some knowledge of French would be an advantage.
• Ability to work well in a multicultural environment.

Remuneration

• The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.