ICRISAT seeks applications for a Scientist – Entomology/Integrated pest management position. The position is based at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Hyderabad, India to support ICRISAT Development (IDC) in different R4D projects. The scientist will report to the cluster Leader, IDC, ICRISAT.

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

Responsibilities:

• Undertake on-farm action research pertaining to designing and execution of integrated pest management interventions, monitor data and analyze the impact of interventions.
• Conduct research trials in the lab, protected cultivation and fields with regards to pest management.
• Conduct research trials on farmers’ fields and scaling up of proven technologies for productivity enhancement through appropriate pest protection measures.
• Writing of new research/ developmental proposals on livelihood improvement through scaling out of suitable natural resource management interventions.
• Supervise and lead the team of technical and supporting staff working in the areas of natural resource management and plant protection of a range of agronomic and horticultural crops.
• Write and communicate research and development findings to various stakeholders for scaling up; documentation and peer reviewed publications.
• Participate in the capacity building of farmers, line departments, NARS partners on pest management.
• Contribute to writing training materials, technical progress reports and annual reviews and work plans as directed by the project management.
• Ability to communicate across multiple cultural contexts and across scientific disciplines.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience working on large, complex development programs as part of multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake any other duties as required by ICRISAT and needs of the Center and as reviewed from time to time by the Regional Director

Essential criteria:

• Ph.D. in Entomology with at least 10 years of extensive R4D experience at international level.
• Expert in the areas of alternate livelihoods options including apiculture, sericulture, biocontrol unit establishment etc.
• Experience of working effectively in teams and a proven ability to help improve the farmers’ income through novel pest management strategies.
• Experience in designing different system diversification modules for sustainable pest management for different agro-ecosystems.
• Experience in standard molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, qRT PCR, gel electrophoresis, cloning and transformation, DNA sequencing, DNA barcoding etc.
• Experience in analytical techniques such as LC-MS and GC-MS Liaise effectively with variety of stakeholders such as livelihood improvement agencies, CSR, Government departments, NARS partners and research Institutions.
• Perform other activities as may be deemed appropriate by the head/cluster leader/RPD.
• Ability to develop effective relationships and work harmoniously in outcome focused and multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Independently plan and carry out research on the nominated research project and work towards completion of the aims of the project.
• Perform data analysis, preparation of reports and communicate this information to different stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to implement, monitor and evaluate on-field agro-ecosystems.
• Ability and willingness to travel to out station locations for demonstrations and data collection.
• High level written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, including demonstrated experience on preparing reports and research papers within required timeframe for a range of audience.

Desired experience:

• Association with international collaborative projects such as the i5K is preferred Research experience with invasive species is a plus
• Experience with biocontrol of pests and weeds.
• Association with digital agriculture.
• Experience in working with different CSR donors, government agencies on projects pertaining to livelihood improvement through crop diversification.
• Aptitude to work collegially and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural environments. 

General:

This is a Scientific / Managerial position for one year, renewable based on the performance of the incumbent and the institute’s continuing need for the position.

How to apply:

Applicants should apply on or before 25 July 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