About IRRI

Job Purpose

The Specialist is expected to facilitate the planning, designing, and implementation of all experiments, including but not limited to the data generation of glycemic indices of various rice lines, development of green-recovery protocols for phenolic compounds in various rice lines, development of various rice-based products, and product assessments as well as specific project goals and research objectives, under the supervision of a Scientist. Communicate with internal and external project partners and collaborators on a regular basis to share conceptual ideas and efficiently collect feedback and research-related needs for the project’s progress. Consolidate, assess, and analyze research data collected during project trials, and contribute to manuscripts for reports/publications, as well as presentations/posters at national and international conferences. Oversee, coach, and mentor scholars, interns, OJTs, researchers, and research technicians. Organize and prepare training sessions for a wide range of individuals.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and may only be filled by permanent citizens of the Philippines.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Facilitate the planning, design, and execution of all experiments
• Generate in vitro glycemic index (GI) measurements and starch-related biochemistry assays of mapping populations and breeding materials
• Generate in vivo GI measurements of identified low GI rice line and rice-based products using glucose sensors
• Develop green-recovery protocols for phenolic compounds from pigmented rice lines
• Formulate bench-top food product samples utilizing identified low GI and pigmented rice lines
• Conduct physicochemical assessment of newly developed products
• Assess and address technical feasibility, optimization of design, and production concerns
• Conduct research and monitoring of industry trends to identify new product prospects
• Contribute to the formulation of research projects by reviewing relevant literature, selecting appropriate research tools and equipment, confirming recommended procedures, and establishing parameters
• Oversee the measurement of antioxidant content and activity of relevant rice lines and developed products
• Maintain constant communication with internal and external project partners and collaborators to exchange conceptual ideas and effectively gather feedback and research-related requirements for the project’s advancement
• Assist and guide internal and external stakeholders considering the implementation of experiments, including logistics
• Continuously monitor, assess, and make suggestions to enhance the research activities/tasks done by Research technicians and Researchers to enable the smooth execution of laboratory experiments and to build a productive work environment
• Coordinate with IRRI services and supplies as needed to facilitate the seamless execution of research
• Compile, review, and analyze research data obtained throughout the course of the project’s trials
• Evaluate, validate, and contribute to the interpretation of findings and contribute to the production of manuscripts for reports/publications, as well as presentations/posters for national and international conferences
• Coordinate and prepare trainings effectively by ensuring that training materials, logistical arrangements, and resource persons are appropriate to the defined objectives
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Technology major in Product Development or related discipline and 4 years of relevant work experience in rice research or
• Master of Science degree in Food Science major in Applied Nutrition or related discipline and 1 year of relevant work experience in rice research

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Experience in rice nutrition research with special reference to development of various rice-based food products
• Knowledge in food sensory and analysis methods and statistical packages

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.