Postdoctoral Fellow, Yam Disease Phenotyping Specialist at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Job Description

• We are seeking a highly motivated individual with experience in plant virology/pathology to participate in the yam disease phenotyping activities mainly in Nigeria but also in Ghana, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire. The successful candidate will contribute to testing of existing phenotyping methods and finding innovative modern methods for rapid and accurate phenotyping of yam for viral and fungal diseases, and contribute to the research on deciphering mechanisms of resistance. The incumbent will ensure that outputs are delivered according to an agreed results framework and results tracker, to support the yam breeding and genomic selection activities.
• He/She will work under the supervision of the Head of Virology & Molecular Diagnostics and report to the Regional Director for Western Africa and the Director in charge of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement. He/she will also work closely with the yam breeding program.
• IITA seeks a qualified individual to participate as 'Yam Disease Phenotyping Specialist' in the new initiative on 'AfricaYam: Enhancing Yam Breeding for Increased Productivity and Improved Quality in West Africa', operating in West Africa, and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
• Project activities will be carried out through collaborative research between IITA and the national yam programs of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria; the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), and the Iwate Biotechnology Research Center (IBRC) in Japan; the James Hutton Institute (JHI), UK; the Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Development (CIRAD), France; and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI), Cornell University, USA. This initiative is focused on breeding superior yam varieties for high yield, good quality and resistance to diseases (anthracnose and yam mosaic virus).
• This project will also focus on regional testing of currently available promising breeding selections; phenotyping bi-parental populations, mapping and genome-wide association studies for key agronomic and quality traits; additional re-sequencing, sequence analysis for generation of genomic tools for genotyping populations, genome-wide association studies, and testing the feasibility of genomic selection; constructing and using a 'open access' database for curation and integration of yam research data; and capacity building.

Position/Responsibilities

• Implement and oversee yam disease phenotyping activities.
• Develop and implement innovative approaches for disease phenotyping.
• Facilitate integration of phenotyping with variety evaluation and breeding for resistance to viruses.
• Facilitate training in phenotyping methods and support trainees (degree and non-degree).
• Organize communication and dissemination undertakings, reporting and publishing of results in international peer reviewed journals.
• Support effective partnerships and linkages.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Educational Qualifications

• The candidate should have a PhD in plant virology/pathology or allied disciplines from a highly recognized university, with good understanding of host-pathogen interactions and skills in phenotyping, application of molecular biological methods for pathogen detection, and data analysis.

Core Competencies

• Strong knowledge and experience in plant virology/pathology, supported by experience in phenotyping plants for disease resistance; application of molecular tools for diagnostics, understanding host-pathogen interactions, application of quantitative diagnostic tools, such as real time PCR, maintenance of pathogen cultures and insect vector transmission, familiarity or working experience with nextgen sequencing technologies (e.g small RNA deep sequencing, RNAseq).
• Knowledge of application of modern phenotyping tools (digital data capture devices, etc).
• Ability to integrate high quality phenotyping with genotyping.
• Experience with project activity implementation and monitoring.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent spoken and written English. French is an added advantage. .
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish articles in peer reviewed international journals.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and multi-cultural environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the West Africa sub-region.
• Research experience with clonally propagated crops is an asset.

General information

• Initial appointment is for two years. It can be renewed on the basis of performance and availability of funds. IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.