Xavier Institute of Business

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Postdoctoral Fellow –Enset Transformation (Ref: DDG-R4D/PDF/ET/10/13)

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Background: The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the position of Postdoctoral Fellow - Enset Transformation.
IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of tropical nations. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.
Position/Responsibilities
The Postdoctoral Fellow will:
  • Lead research activities for enset transformation for bacterial wilt resistance
  • Establish embryogenic cell suspension cultures
  • Develop rapid and robust transformation system for enset
  • Generate and evaluate transgenic enset for resistance to bacterial wilt disease
  • Liaise with biosafety authorities for approvals for conducting transgenic research on enset
  • Supervise staff and students on the project
  • Handle day-to-day management of the project
  • Compile progress reports
  • Publish research findings and communicate outcomes
  • Contribute to capacity strengthening of national partners
  • Organize annual meetings and training workshops
  • Participate actively in monthly meetings, annual review and planning meetings, resource mobilization, and contribute to strategic research planning.
Educational Qualifications
Ph.D. in Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/Biochemistry/ Plant Science with specialization in Plant Transformation and Molecular Biology.
Core Competencies:
  • Strong knowledge and experience in plant tissue culture preferably in somatic embryogenesis and cell suspension cultures
  • Experience in establishing genetic transformation of vegetatively propagated crops
  • Experience on tissue culture and transformation of enset or related crop would be an asset
  • Knowledge of gene cloning and construct development
  • Knowledge of molecular characterization and other relevant analysis of transgenic plants
  • Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment
Duty station: IITA-Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
General information: Initial appointment is for two years. IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.
Applications: Applications which must include covering letter, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link:http://www.iita.org/irs-online-application
Closing Date: 2nd December 2013

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