Postdoctoral Fellow - Enset Transformation at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of tropical nations

We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the position of a Postdoctoral Fellow - Enset Transformation

Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow - Enset Transformation

Location: Nigeria

Job Description
The Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake the following activities:

• Lead research activities for enset transformation for bacterial wilt resistance
• Establish embryogenic cell suspension cultures of enset
• Develop rapid and robust transformation system for enset
• Generate and evaluate transgenic enset for resistance to bacterial wilt disease
• Follow up with National partner in Ethiopia for technical progress of the project and approvals from biosafety authorities for conducting transgenic research on enset
• Supervise staffs and students on the project
• Handle day-to-day management of the project
• Compile progress reports
• Publish research findings and communicate outcomes
• Contribute to capacity strengthening of national partners
• Organize annual meetings and training workshops
• Participate actively in monthly meetings, annual review and planning meetings, resource mobilization, and contribute to strategic research planning
• Duty station: IITA-Nairobi, Kenya

Minimum Qualification & Experience

• The candidate should have a Ph.D in Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/Biochemistry/ Plant Science with specialization in Plant Transformation and Molecular Biology

Skills & abilities:

• Strong knowledge and experience in plant tissue culture preferably in somatic embryogenesis and cell suspension cultures
• Experience in establishing genetic transformation of vegetatively propagated crops
• Experience on tissue culture and transformation of enset or related crop would be an asset
• Knowledge of gene cloning and construct development
• Knowledge of molecular characterization and other relevant analysis of transgenic plants
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment.

Terms & Conditions

• Initial appointment is for two years. It can be extended on the basis of performance and availability of funds.

Remuneration
Competitive package paid in US dollars.

Application Closing Date
16th January, 2015

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should address their applications, which must include covering letter, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees to:

The Head,
Human Resources Service.

Please complete our online application here

Click here for more details on the job

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.