Crop Physiologist

Description

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

CIMMYT seeks an early career, field-oriented plant physiologist to build on our pioneering achievements in the science and application of crop physiology at breeding scale for application in wheat improvement at CIMMYT and globally.

The position will be based at CIMMYT’s campus in Texcoco, State of Mexico, located 45 km northeast of Mexico City, Mexico, or at Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, if mutually agreed. 

Specific duties:

• Lead CIMMYT’s high-throughput-phenotyping platform at Ciudad Obregon (Mexico) and incorporate innovations consistent with research and breeding objectives.
• Conduct discovery research within the framework of current and future portfolios to establish physiological bases of adaptation to abiotic stress and yield potential.
• Develop robust phenotypic selection indices using remote and ground-based data.
• Advise validation research of promising traits, including co-design of strategic wheat crosses in collaboration with wheat breeders for proof-of-concept.
• Curate data, analyze, report, and publish results.
• Contribute to research proposals and seek opportunities for new collaborations and funding sources. 
• Assist collaborators and other visiting scientists with research logistics.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians.
• Co-supervise graduate students.
• Participate in wheat physiology team research activities as needed during peak work periods.

Requirements

• PhD in plant or crop physiology, or other highly relevant discipline.
• Experience in high throughput phenotyping, image analysis, and data extraction.
• Experience in use and routine user-maintenance of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence equipment.
• Competent in statistical analysis and data interpretation.
• Track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Willingness to spend extended periods at CIMMYT’s research station in NW Mexico. 
• Application of AI tools such as deep learning to analyze complex data sets is desirable.
• Knowledge of crop modeling and its potential applications is desirable.
• Understanding of basic principles of quantitative genetics is desirable.
• Familiarity with crop management and wheat cropping systems is desirable.
• The selected candidate must exhibit the following competencies: Problem-solving and decision-making, client orientation, negotiation and conflict resolution, communication, and teamwork.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed term of three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health, and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Screening and follow-up of applications will begin on Sunday, May 12th, 2024. Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them, and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.