Research Assistant for Agricultural Entomology Research

Description

Main purpose of position

Assist entomology research on key pests in wheat, barley, food legumes and assist with the development of IPM innovations against insect pests with wide host ranges. The incumbent also supports short term and degree trainees.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.

ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that consider gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.

All CGIAR Centers are currently engaged into a reform process (“One CGIAR’”) that will help ICARDA and CGIAR achieve better impact through more strategically integrated research, unified governance, an integrated structure and new research modalities across participating Research Centers. This transformation is supported by CGIAR donors who have committed to increased funding because of these reforms.  

Main responsibilities

Precisely phenotype breeding lines and germplasm accessions for key insect pests identified in product profile of each breeding program under field and controlled conditions.
Assist IPM research and scaling on insect pests of cereals, food legumes and cactus.
Undertake field layout, planting, and data collections on designed experiments and involve in field surveys.
Assist with endophytes and volatile organic compounds research.
Contribute to training and capacity building of students, trainees, visiting scientists and partners.
Contribute to writing of project proposals for funding, scientific reports, and manuscripts for publications.
Supervise daily laborers working in the field and in the laboratory.
Perform any other job assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience

Minimum MSc degree in Agricultural Entomology, Applied Microbiology or Agronomy.
At least 5 years of research for development experience on key insect pests of pulse and cereal crops in Mediterranean region.
Experience in wild cactus cochineal research.
Experience in biological control (Bio-pesticide, Volatile organic compounds, endophytes) research.
Knowledge on experimental designs and statistical data analysis relevant to Plant Protection.
Experience in rearing of key insect pests of cereals and food legumes.
Record of scientific publications related to cereal, legumes, and cactus insect pests.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of Arabic and/or French desirable.
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.
Valid driving license.
Experience in using analytical equipment for volatile organic compounds extraction is an added advantage.
Experience with working in CG centers is an added advantage.