Postdoctoral Fellow – Genomics-Assisted Breeding

The organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International (www.bioversityinternational.org) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) (www.ciat.cgiar.org) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position
The main objective of this position is to develop molecular tools to enhance genomics-assisted breeding for increased genetic gains and initiate inbred-progenitor-based hybrid cassava breeding.

Main responsibilities

• To perform a wide range of duties designed to understand the genetics of traits required in product profiles for cassava breeding.
• To Solve complex research problems relating to applying genomics and quantitative genetics tools to enhance the accuracy of genomic predictors in breeding populations
• To design crossing nurseries and field trials to study inbreeding depression, identify or create heterotic pools and purge deleterious mutations using selfing and rapid cycling.
• To develop productive and mutually supportive relationships with cassava programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen the network and increase genetic gains under One CGIAR

Qualifications and requirements

• PhD with emphasis in breeding, genetics and genomics and strong training in statistics.
• Independent research experience is preferred.
• Experience in genome-wide association analysis and genome-wide prediction is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying genetic variations that influence complex traits.
• Understanding of theoretical methodology used in analyzing quantitative and molecular data for genome wide prediction.
• Basic to advanced understanding of plant breeding and genetics.
• Strong desire to work in the multi-disciplinary program to integrate traditional, genomic and phenomic tools for increased genetic gains.
• Highly motivated, self-starting, and flexible, with demonstrated experience in plant genetics, genomics, and population improvement.
• Strong interest in collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
• Demonstrated capacity to prioritize multiple activities and make day-to-day decisions.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral; and being able to communicate in Spanish is a plus.

Terms of employment
This is an international recruited position, and will be based in Cali, Colombia. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six (6) months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. This position is graded at a level BG08 in a scale of 14 levels being BG14 the highest level.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. We are an equal opportunity employer, and strive for gender, diversity and inclusion in our staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic.