CIMMYT Research Assistant – Breeding Operations

Description 

The purpose of this assignment is to set up trials and nurseries, collect data and leaf tissue for AVISA crops (sorghum, pearl millet, peanuts), supervise temporary workers, and manage assets used in the work (vehicles, tablets). to support scientists by maintaining . For data collection, etc.). The hired employees will also be responsible for producing, packaging, and shipping the seeds.
He/she performs activities that involve specific tasks including but not limited to:

Data collection and organization

• Manage accurate and timely data collection during various stages of field and nursery trials.
• Ensure accuracy of data entry and synthesis for analysis by scientists.
• Learn and interact with Breeding Management Systems (BMS) and Enterprise Breeding Systems (EBS) to manage daily operations, data uploads, data curation, cleansing, and preliminary analysis.
• Implement timely digital data capture using appropriate tools and software as identified by the AVISA Administrator.
• Coordinate genotyping sampling and shipping

Management of trials and nurseries

• Ensure timely land preparation
• Ensures timely planting, testing, and seedbeds according to test plans.
  
• Ensure proper fertilizer rates, timely application of irrigation water, and control of weeds and pests.
• Make sure that planting and harvesting of seedlings is carried out according to the instructions
• Be sure to molt/thresh inbred lines carefully to avoid seed contamination.
• Manage seed propagation activities according to grower instructions
• Seed harvest and processing monitoring

Supervise casual labor

• Assign temporary employees to different tasks.
• Track daily attendance.
• Compliance with safety and health standards.
• Create collection list and send to supervisor and accounting department for payment processing.

Office & Maintenance of assets

• Manage seed inventory and storage
• Ensure tablets for data collection are serviced
• Timely irrigation pump checks and ensure stores are cleaned and air conditioners are serviced

Other Responsibilities

• Works with supervisor to support partners as needed
• Developing and designing process flows for AVISA nurseries
• Precisely manage, package, and label your seeds.
• Print seed labels and field labels to identify trials and nurseries
• Send seeds to various partners
• Establish and maintain contacts with collaborating organizations and partners
• Assist in generating descriptor data

Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Master’s degree in plant breeding, physiology, agronomy, or other agricultural science or biotechnology
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in leading activities or research projects in the agricultural sector with good knowledge of theory, practice and procedures.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills to superiors and colleagues.
• Ability to communicate orally in French and English about everyday matters and to write short reports and fill out forms without assistance.
• Sufficient ability to use standard Windows-based software used at CIMMYT for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email, with occasional support.
• Good writing materials, computer software and other IT materials for her
• Ability to supervise and train field staff to manage breeding research activities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal daily supervision and proactively solve problems.
• Familiarity with legumes and grains and related research activities, including experience with pollination, data collection from trials and nurseries, operation of breeding and operational software, and sample genotyping is an advantage.
• Ability to analyze data, situations, and problems and evaluate and select possible courses of action.
• They typically make rational decisions based on policy, established processes, precedent, or common sense.
• Decisions are primarily concerned with workflow: how you do things, not what you do.