The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research organization temporarily based in Beirut, Lebanon supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA is committed to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through agricultural research, and the equitable use of natural resources.
ICARDA has responsibility for the improvement of wheat, barley, and legumes for Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) as part of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR). ICARDA intends to explore the implementation of the newest technologies of molecular breeding (genomic
selection and marker assisted selection) to deliver superior germplasm to the BIGM breeders. ICARDA is seeking a driven young Associated Scientist to link the extremely valuable alleles identified in the over 150,000 accessions of ICARDAs gene bank with their exploitation in the breeding program. The successful candidate is expected to design molecular approaches to assure rapid delivery of improved germplasm to the breeders, including marker assisted backcrossing, exploitation of double haploids, and genomic selection applied in crossing of landraces, synthetics, and elites. The successful candidate is also expected to establish a genomic selection platform in collaboration with other CGIAR and international institutions,
to help scale up the application of molecular breeding techniques within the center, and to provide indications to the national programs of CWANA on how to implement a similar strategy.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit, research organization temporarily based in Beirut, Lebanon supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA is committed to the improvement of livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas by enhancing food security and alleviating poverty through agricultural research, and the equitable use of natural resources.
Main purpose of the position
ICARDA has responsibility for the improvement of wheat, barley, and legumes for Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) as part of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR). ICARDA intends to explore the implementation of the newest technologies of molecular breeding (genomic
selection and marker assisted selection) to deliver superior germplasm to the BIGM breeders. ICARDA is seeking a driven young Associated Scientist to link the extremely valuable alleles identified in the over 150,000 accessions of ICARDAs gene bank with their exploitation in the breeding program. The successful candidate is expected to design molecular approaches to assure rapid delivery of improved germplasm to the breeders, including marker assisted backcrossing, exploitation of double haploids, and genomic selection applied in crossing of landraces, synthetics, and elites. The successful candidate is also expected to establish a genomic selection platform in collaboration with other CGIAR and international institutions,
to help scale up the application of molecular breeding techniques within the center, and to provide indications to the national programs of CWANA on how to implement a similar strategy.
Education, qualifications and experience
- PhD in plant breeding, molecular breeding, genetics or related discipline.
- Relevant experience at international level.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement phenotypic, MAS, and genomic selection breeding schemes.
- Demonstrated ability to handle advanced molecular marker data.
- Academic or practical knowledge of molecular cytogenetic techniques.
- Experience in the constrains associated with cereal-based or legumes-based systems is preferable.
- Relevant experience with marker assisted selection in any of the crops within the ICARDA mandate
- Proven ability as presenter at international conferences.
- Basic or advance experience in teaching and/or training.
- A proven record in research through ISI peer-review publications.
- Basic knowledge of a second language such as French or Arabic would is preferable.
- Good inter-personal skills and the ability to work with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.
Please apply online at www.icarda.org/iea/ by 31 December 2013.