POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
IITA-TZ2023-R4D-002-NRS-DAR ES SALAAM
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit https://www.iita.org/ for more information about IITA.
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IITA works with other CGIAR centres and national partners on the Seed Equal Initiative, which aims to strengthen seed delivery and improve farmer access to new improved varieties. Seed Equal is active across the global tropics, but has a diverse set of activities in Tanzania focusing on vegetatively-propagated crops. IITA also runs a project entitled BASICSII which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and which has a vision of developing and commercializing the cassava seed supply chain from pre-basic seed of officially released varieties to community-level production by farmers.
IITA is looking for a suitably qualified person to fill the vacancy of the Research Technician – BASICSII Project
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Duty Station: This is a Nationally Recruited Position, and the incumbent will be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Core Responsibilities:
As a Research Technician, you will work as part of the Plant and Seed Health for Agriculture (PASHA) team of IITA-Tanzania. You will work with other members of the BASICSII project team to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of pest and disease diagnostic tests being used to assure the health of cassava planting material. In doing so, you will work closely with project partner – the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute. Tasks will involve ordering lab reagents, running diagnostic tests (including standard PCR, real-time PCR and LAMP), conducting lab and screenhouse experiments to improve diagnostic tests, as well as analysing and reporting results. You will also conduct training activities to strengthen capacity in the application of improved pest/disease diagnostics.
Qualification, Experience and Key Skills
- BSc in biological sciences with some previous experience of working in a molecular biology laboratory.
- Previous experience of working on laboratory diagnostics for viruses affecting root, tuber and banana crops will be a great advantage.
- Excellent communication and writing skills. Strong English.
General information:
The initial contract for the position is for two years: renewable subject to performance and availability of funds. The duty station for the position will be IITA in Dar es Salaam. This is a nationally recruited position and IITA offers a competitive remuneration package.
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
IITA-TZ2023-R4D-001-NRS-DAR ES SALAAM
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit https://www.iita.org/ for more information about IITA.
IITA works with other CGIAR centres and national partners on the Seed Equal Initiative, which aims to strengthen seed delivery and improve farmer access to new improved varieties. Seed Equal is active across the global tropics, but has a diverse set of activities in Tanzania focusing on vegetatively-propagated crops. IITA also runs a project entitled BASICSII which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and which has a vision of developing and commercializing the cassava seed supply chain from pre-basic seed of officially released varieties to community-level production by farmers.
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IITA is looking for a suitably qualified person to fill the vacancy of the Research Associate – Seed Equal Initiative
Duty Station: This is a Nationally Recruited Position, and the incumbent will be based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Core Responsibilities:
As a Research Associate, you will work as part of the Plant and Seed Health for Agriculture (PASHA)team of IITA-Tanzania, and will be responsible for supervising disease diagnostics activities in the molecular biology lab. This will involve ensuring the effective running of the lab, procuring lab consumables, conducting lab work including sample management, nucleic acid extracation, PCR-based diagnostics, LAMP assays and working with team members to expand the range of diagnostics being implemented. Additional tasks will include preparing and running virus diagostics training activities, working with team members on seed health studies, collecting field data from locations in Tanzania and elsewhere if required, and running screenhouse experiments. You will be expected to analyse, report and present results and contribute to the publication of scientific journal articles.
Qualification, Experience and Key Skills
- MSc in biological sciences with a minium of three years’ experience in working in a molecular biology laboratory.
- Previous experience of working on laboratory diagnostics for viruses affecting root, tuber and banana crops will be a great advantage.
- Excellent communication and writing skills. Fluent English. For successful candidates who show strong research skills and high commitment levels, there will be an opportunity to study for a PhD.
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General information:
The initial contract for the position is for two years: renewable subject to performance and availability of funds. The duty station for the position will be IITA in Dar es Salaam. This is a nationally recruited position and IITA offers a competitive remuneration package.
How to Apply:
Applications including curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, telephone number, email address, and names and addresses of two referees should be sent to the Country Representative, IITA-Tanzania, Plot No. 25, Mwenge – Coca-Cola Road, Mikocheni Industrial Area P.O. Box 34441, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania or by email to IITA-Tanzania@cgiar.org.
Applicants are requested to please indicate the reference number for the position as indicated on the heading of the announcement in your application as well as on the subject of your email if sending by email. If sending by post or hand delivery, please indicate the reference number on your application as well as on the left-hand side of your envelope. Please note that any applications without the reference indicated will be automatically disqualified.
The deadline for submitting the application is 02 February 2023.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
