ASSISTANT PATHOLOGY LABORATORY

THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers researchbased 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.

The Alliance works with local national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean Asia and Africa and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR a global research partnership for a foodsecure future dedicated to reducing poverty enhancing food and nutrition security and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is looking for a Pathology Laboratory Assistant who will provide support in studying the health of plants. He/she will help in identifying common bean diseases pests and other health problems a plant may experience. The recruited staff will also oversee Pathology laboratory and screenhouse operations.

Key duties & Responsibilities

• Support in tissue sampling and other routine tasks associated with experiments.
  
• Support in mechanical inoculation of virus bacteria fungi oomycete nematode and other pathogens in field greenhouse and growth chambers.
  
• Support the process of bioassays with insects/vectors.
  
• Support in routine data collection from various sized research projects and entry into enterprise systems.
  
• Support in preparation of clear accurate and concise reports of results and communicating them to colleague or stakeholders.
  
• Perform or direct simple to complex molecular lab work.
  
• Perform data analysis using parametric and nonparametric statistical models.
  
• Review literature and stay up to date on the latest technologies.
  

Requirements

• Ongoing master s studies in Plant pathology/crop protection from a recognized university.
  
• Experience in the below areas will be an added advantage;
  
• Managing and supporting biotic phenotyping activities in the field glasshouse and laboratory.
  
• Support in tissue sampling and other routine tasks associated with experiments.
  
• Support in mechanical inoculation of viruses bacteria fungi oomycete nematode and other pathogens in field greenhouse and growth chambers.
  
• Support the process of bioassays with insects/vectors.
  
• Support in routine data collection from various sized research projects and entry into enterprise systems.
  
• Working knowledge of laboratory pathogen culture purification and microscopic identification and inoculum preparation.
  
• Working knowledge of DNA and RNA isolation and molecular identification techniques like PCR technology.
  
• Good report and journal writing skill is required.
  
• Ability to communicate orally in both English and Swahili on daily routine matters and to prepare brief reports or complete forms without assistance.
  
• Sufficient competency to use the standard Windowsbased software for word processing spreadsheets presentations and email used at Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT with occasional assistance.
  
• Good writing records computing software and other IT materials.
  
• Ability to provide supervision and training to field staff to manage breeding research activities.
  
• Ability to work independently with minimal day to day supervision and proactively solve problems.
  
• Familiarity with legumes crops and related research operations (pollination data collection from trials and nurseries.
  
• Ability to analyze data situations or problems evaluate possible resolution mechanisms.
  
• Take reasoned decisions usually based on policy established process precedents or common sense.
  
• Decisions mostly about work processes How to do rather than what to do.
  
• Review literature and stay up to date on the latest technologies.
  

This position is a nationally recruited position based in Arusha Tanzania. The initial contract will be for one year subject to a probation period of three months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG 04 level with a minimum basic salary of 915302 Tanzania Shillings in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance retirement plan staff training and development paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance BioversityCIAT is committed to fair safe and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation contributes to our excellence and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures races colors religions sexes national or regional origins ages disability statuses sexual orientations marital status and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applications closing date: 1^st March 2024

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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