The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Molecular Breeding Senior Research Associate
Location: Ibadan, Oyo
Duities Research data acquisition, storage, & Analysis:
Trait discovery and development: Conduct QTL analysis to identify genomic regions associated with favourable traits; annotate significant genomic regions and develop tightly linked molecular markers for breeding applications.
Analyse large-scale genotypic and phenotypic datasets using bioinformatics tools (PLINK, RStudio, TASSEL, Galaxy, etc.). Select and convert high-PIC, informative SNPs from fingerprinting data into KASP markers for mid-density marker panel development.
Prepare technical reports and research summaries.
Contribute technical reports, manuscripts, and slides preparation
Presentation of research findings at relevant forums.
Data Management:
Curate genotypic data into the EBS database
Maintain and update the custom inventory database on SharePoint.
Supervision & Capacity Building:
Support post graduate students, interns, and visiting researchers in wet-lab and dry-lab techniques.
Support group and individual training sessions, including hands-on molecular biology workshops.
Support scientists in coordinating training schedules for visiting scientists from National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and other partners.
Coordinate Genotyping Services with Vendors and Service Delivery to Regional Partners:
Liaise with Breeding Services and service vendors to ensure availability of consumables for timely order processing, tissue sampling, shipping logistics, sample submission, data interpretation, and storage.
Develop a work plan and cost estimate for providing genotyping services, such as QC, to private-sector partners.
Lab operations and procurement:
Lead end-to-end project management for small and large-scale genotyping projects, mainly for maize program but also support other crops as needed.
Manage procurement of laboratory reagents and screen-house consumables to maintain project operations.
Tracking GMO contamination in maize breeding germplasm and pipelines:
Support scientists in tracking and sampling maize grain and plants in testing for maize GMO events available in Nigeria
Testing samples for GMO events in maize grain and plants
Supporting seed shipment and compliance officer in generating GMO analysis reports.
Requirements
Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Molecular Biology or a closely related field, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in molecular biology laboratory operations within a well-structured organization.
Competencies: The ideal candidate must have:
Knowledge of diversity analysis, association analysis, linkage mapping, and marker-assisted selection.
Proficiency in relevant software and tools, including TASSEL, PLINK, RStudio, JoinMap, CodonAligner, and Galaxy.
Competence in coordinating tissue sampling, shipping, sample tracking, data filtering, and analysis.
Ability to liaise with international genotyping service providers and internal breeding programs to ensure workflow continuity.
Experience in procurement and resource planning, including managing laboratory, screen-house consumables and anticipating resource requirements.
Strong scientific writing and presentation skills, including drafting technical reports and scientific manuscripts and preparing presentation slides.
Supervisory, mentorship, and capacity-building skills, including training delivery and stakeholder training coordination.
Strong data curation and database management skills, including experience with Enterprise Breeding System (EBS), Bioflow, and SharePoint.