International Potato Center

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Ref.: 15-23 RA/CCCAP

 

Research Assistant

 

 

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a highly competent and dynamic scientist to fill the newly created position of Research Assistant (RA) for potato research and development projects in Asia.

 

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweet potato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.

 

The position: The Research Assistant will work within the CIP's global Asia potato strategic program “Agile potato for Asia" and will be located in the CIP Kunming, China office in the ICRAF building of the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB) campus in Kunming.

 

The primary objective of this position is to assist the program leader in the development and refinement of a Research & Development strategy for potato-based systems Asia, with a special focus on constraints caused by plant diseases. Also, will assist the program leader in the development of project proposals in China and the region, and will coordinate with CIP’s Grants & Contracts office on proposal tracking. 

 

General activities will include information and data management for the entire program and general administrative functions and work with the CCCAP office in Beijing on administrative and programmatic issues as required, but the RA will also be able to develop a personal research portfolio in a number of subjects related to:

·         Baseline study of primary target countries in region including potato statistics, potential yield, potential potato production zones, production calendars and yield gaps.

·         Current role of biotic and abiotic constraints in yield gap and economic parameters of potato production in selected target countries (together with CIP economists).

·         Risk assessment of major abiotic and biotic constraints in the context of global change (climate and other) using crop/disease/pest modeling

·         Importance in the region of host plant resistance to major potato biotic constraints, starting with potato late blight.  

The RA will also contribute in CIP’s professional structure, participating in CIP’s talent management program, and other aspects of the CIP culture.

·         PhD in some area of agriculture, ecology or a related field highly desirable; strong candidates with an MSc may also apply

·         Excellent Mandarin Chinese written and verbal communication skills are essential. Working proficiency in English is a strong advantage.

·         Advanced knowledge of applied biological sciences

·         Experience in database management, using MS Office or other tools.

·         Good experience of performing statistical analysis with R is also highly desirable.

·         Experience in biophysical modeling at different spatial scales, as well as spatially explicit analyses using GIS would be highly desirable. 

·         Problem solving skills, taking consistent action and focused on meeting project deliverables.

 

Conditions: This position is local thus limited to Chinese nationals and permanent residents.  The employment contract will be for one year term with possibility of renewal. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth. The successful candidate will receive a compensation package comparable with similar organizations and in line with the candidate’s qualification and experience.

 

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), or send email with your CV to cip-cccap@cgiar.org including a letter of motivation, a full C.V with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin from now and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted.