• Collaborate and coordinate with the technical phenotyping team to screen bananas for climate change adaptation and drought tolerance.
• Design and execute greenhouse, field, and farmer experiments under the guidance of the principal scientist to evaluate banana cultivars for climate change adaptation and drought tolerance.
• Ensure coordination and interaction between the phenotyping work, the beans team, and the banana agronomy and protection team.
• Supervise and characterize the banana field collection at Future Seeds.
• Provide project-related updates to donors and stakeholders.
• Assist in fundraising efforts and resource mobilization.
• Advise teams on research progress and identify any issues in experiment implementation and data quality.
• Engage and interact with banana and bean characterization and evaluation research teams in Leuven, Montpellier, and Kawanda.
• Collaborate with the digital inclusion TRICOT team and the PISA team to translate outcomes into impactful solutions for farmers.
• Develop experiment plans and layouts in consultation with the supervisor.
• Conduct and execute data analysis related to projects.
• Supervise technical staff and students in collecting, verifying, and curating climatic and agronomic data in formats suitable for processing, analysis, and storage.
• Collect soil and plant samples, as well as related data, for molecular analyses when necessary.
• Manage day-to-day labor requirements of the local team to ensure smooth experiment operations.
• Support, supervise, and train junior technical staff under the guidance of the supervisor to maintain high-quality research and meet objectives within resource and time constraints.
• Expected deliverables for the position: Rigorous and sound data production and analysis from the above experiments. Regular reports of progress on different activities at screen house, field, and farm levels. Continuation and generation of peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and donor reports. Contribution to the preparation of research proposals and related fundraising activities

Requirements

• PhD in Biology, Agriculture, Plant Physiology, or Crop Improvement from a reputable university.
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years’ experience conducting phenotyping work.
• Proficiency in data collection and analysis using Android-based applications (e.g., Fieldbook), with exposure to data analysis software such as Musabase, Genstat, or R.
• Excellent mathematical and modeling skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel long distances as required.
• Dedication and commitment to the organization’s mission and core values.
• Methodical, well-organized, and structured approach to work.
• Flexibility and adeptness at meeting deadlines.
• Advanced English level (oral and written).

• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Proper work planning.
• Strong communication abilities, both written and oral, in English and Spanish.
• Capability to work independently while also contributing effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated proficiency in personal organization, priority setting, and attention to detail.
• Flexibility and adeptness at meeting deadlines.
• Results-driven with a proactive learning mindset.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with individuals from diverse cultural and national backgrounds.

Benefits