THE ORGANIZATION

The Alliance of Bioversity International 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.

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 food-secure 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 non-parametric statistical models.
  
• Review literature and stay up to date on the latest technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree 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 Windows-based 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 915,302 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 Bioversity-CIAT 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.