Molecular Breeding Senior Research Associate at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Duties
Research data acquisition, storage, & Analysis:

• Trait discovery and development: Conduct QTL analysis to identify genomic regions associated with favourable traits; annotate significant genomic regions and develop tightly linked molecular markers for breeding applications.
• Analyse large-scale genotypic and phenotypic datasets using bioinformatics tools (PLINK, RStudio, TASSEL, Galaxy, etc.). Select and convert high-PIC, informative SNPs from fingerprinting data into KASP markers for mid-density marker panel development.
• Prepare technical reports and research summaries.
• Contribute technical reports, manuscripts, and slides preparation
• Presentation of research findings at relevant forums.

Data Management:

• Curate genotypic data into the EBS database
• Maintain and update the custom inventory database on SharePoint.

Supervision & Capacity Building:

• Support post graduate students, interns, and visiting researchers in wet-lab and dry-lab techniques.
• Support group and individual training sessions, including hands-on molecular biology workshops.
• Support scientists in coordinating training schedules for visiting scientists from National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and other partners.

Coordinate Genotyping Services with Vendors and Service Delivery to Regional Partners:

• Liaise with Breeding Services and service vendors to ensure availability of consumables for timely order processing, tissue sampling, shipping logistics, sample submission, data interpretation, and storage.
• Develop a work plan and cost estimate for providing genotyping services, such as QC, to private-sector partners.

Lab operations and procurement:

• Lead end-to-end project management for small and large-scale genotyping projects, mainly for maize program but also support other crops as needed.
• Manage procurement of laboratory reagents and screen-house consumables to maintain project operations.

Tracking GMO contamination in maize breeding germplasm and pipelines:

• Support scientists in tracking and sampling maize grain and plants in testing for maize GMO events available in Nigeria
• Testing samples for GMO events in maize grain and plants
• Supporting seed shipment and compliance officer in generating GMO analysis reports.

Requirements

• Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Molecular Biology or a closely related field, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in molecular biology laboratory operations within a well-structured organization.

Competencies:
The ideal candidate must have:

• Knowledge of diversity analysis, association analysis, linkage mapping, and marker-assisted selection.
• Proficiency in relevant software and tools, including TASSEL, PLINK, RStudio, JoinMap, CodonAligner, and Galaxy.
• Competence in coordinating tissue sampling, shipping, sample tracking, data filtering, and analysis.
• Ability to liaise with international genotyping service providers and internal breeding programs to ensure workflow continuity.
• Experience in procurement and resource planning, including managing laboratory, screen-house consumables and anticipating resource requirements.
• Strong scientific writing and presentation skills, including drafting technical reports and scientific manuscripts and preparing presentation slides.
• Supervisory, mentorship, and capacity-building skills, including training delivery and stakeholder training coordination.
• Strong data curation and database management skills, including experience with Enterprise Breeding System (EBS), Bioflow, and SharePoint.

Benefits

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.