ICRISAT seeks applications for a Associate Scientist-Entomology for The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) to work on the ACIAR funded International Mungbean Improvement Network Project. This position will be based at WorldVeg South and Central Asia Regional Office in Hyderabad-Patancheru, India. This is a nationally recruited position and is open for Indian nationals only.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct laboratory, glasshouse, and field experiments on screening germplasm and breeding populations for pest resistance/tolerance in legumes.
• Coordinate multi-locational field trials on screening for pest resistance in legumes.
• Develop and implement integrated pest management strategies in legumes.
• Data collection, collation, and maintenance of databases.
• Preparation of research reports and scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• Conduct other research work activities in legume/vegetable entomology and IPM as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Maintaining safety and hygiene  standards in crop pest management.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Center.

Requirement:

• Ph.D. in Entomology, or Plant Protection specializing in Entomology with a good academic record with at least five years’ experience.
• Extensive experience in laboratory, glasshouse, and field screening of germplasm for pest resistance.
• Sound knowledge of experimental designs and statistical analysis.
• Experience in molecular biology.
• Excellent communication and computer skills, fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal daily supervision and proactively solve problems.
• Curiosity and a desire to continuously learn about science.

The Reward: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position with competitive pay and benefits. The initial appointment is for three years renewable depending on the performance of the incumbent.

The candidate we hire will embody WorldVeg’s Five Core Values:

1. Dedication to Innovation and Knowledge Sharing:

Supports the conduct of world-class science, respects ethical standards, and is committed to sharing results in a transparent manner.

2. Commitment to Impact:

Aspires to achieve positive, tangible, and lasting impact contributing to Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Commitment to Partnerships:

Believes in the value of partnerships to advance research for development.

4. Respect for People:

Respect the diversity of gender, culture, ethnic origin, religion, age, beliefs, and views.

5. Respect for the Environment:

Strives to minimize its environmental impact and to introduce greener technology and practices.

General:

This is a contractual role for a period of 18 months.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 20 November 2023, with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer