IITA Jobs: Associate Professional Officer – Plant Pathology (Tanzania)

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The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), with headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Job Title: Associate Professional Officer – Plant Pathology (Tanzania)
Ref: DDG-R4D/APO/PP/01/11
Sector:   Grain legumes
Duty Station: IITA – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Duration of the assignment: Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years
Grade:   IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars. Starting salary scale will depend on the level of education and experience.

The candidate will be based in Dar Es Salaam at the regional hub of IITA for East and South Africa and liaise with the plant pathologist and GIS specialist based there and also with IITA's soybean breeder based in Malawi and IITA's plant pathologist based at IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
•   Develop an early warning detection system that monitors how soybean rust spores are being distributed in prevailing wind patterns in Tanzania.
•   Develop a rapid diagnostic system to detect soybean rust disease when established in the field in Tanzania.
•   Characterise the variance of the rust pathogen in Tanzania.
•   Assess resistance of soybean germplasm to races of the rust pathogen in Tanzania.
•   Develop risk assessment models of the disease spread patterns in Tanzania.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Qualifications:   M.Sc. in plant pathology
Experience: Preferably 2 years relevant working experience. Familiarity with disease epidemiology, GIS skills, modelling and writing peer reviewed scientific papers.

Competencies:
•   Fluency (oral and written) in both English and desirable Kiswahili.
•   Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment and to interact effectively with staff from national institutions.
•   Willingness and ability to travel regionally and often under difficult conditions.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications including curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager.

Please complete online application form using this link: http://old.iita.org/cms/details/job_application.aspx
The deadline for application is 20th February 2011.

Applications received after this date will not be considered. Applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of their application. Thereafter only those shortlisted for interviews will be contacted.

For more information: IITA Jobs: Associate Professional Officer – Plant Pathology (Tanzania).

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This vacancy closes soon. Apply in time to meet up the deadline.

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