Associate Scientist: Understanding the effect of climate and climate change on banana, cacao and coconut productivity and production systems
Bioversity International (“Bioversity” for short) is the world’s largest organization undertaking research on agricultural biodiversity, dedicated to addressing global issues related to food security, poverty, climate change and environmental degradation. We are a nonprofit organization, active in over 100 countries worldwide, with more than 350 staff working from some 16 country offices. We are one of 15 centres of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR).
For further information on Bioversity International, consult the Web page at
http://www.bioversityinternational.org
The commodity crops under the mandate of Bioversity, i.e. bananas, cacao and coconut, share a common characteristic. All three crops need a uniform supply of water and a relatively uniform tropical temperature regime for optimum performance. Small farmer dependence on these crops for income and in the case of banana and plantain for food security is more common in areas with relatively more uniform rainfall. For all three crops climate change threatens existing rainfall patterns. An increase in the frequency of drought stress in certain regions around the world and greater temperature extremes in other areas threaten productivity. Tools for a better understanding of crop response to increases in temperature and changes in average rainfall, to climate variability and to extreme weather events are important to improving current productivity and to developing adaptation strategies of these crops.
Purpose of Role
Under the supervision of a Scientist, the appointee will be responsible for projecting and understanding crop response and productivity to climate change in the context of Bioversity International projects and with national partners on small farmer production of banana and plantain, cacaco and coconut.
Key responsibilities
He/She will have the following main responsibilities:
• Improve the current banana modeling tools for mapping the suitability of crop growing conditions at global, national and local scale for banana and testing the possible contribution of adaptation strategies;
• Analyze the impact of climate change on the suitability of banana crop growing conditions and the possible contribution of adaptation strategies;
• Apply approaches developed for banana to modeling suitability of crop growing conditions for cocoa and coconut under different climate change scenarios;
• Develop a strategy for linking more general Musa crop suitability modeling to field studies and modeling of Musa crop productivity in monocrop and mixed cropping;
• Collaborate in the design of field experiments and data collection to further the development of Musa crop growth models;
• Collaborate in the development of Musa crop growth models;
• Oversee efficient data base design, entry management and accessibility;
• Integrate a team approach in Latin America, Africa and Asia to stakeholder training on projecting the impact of climate change on commodity crop suitability and the distribution of pests and diseases and to research and development planning for adaptation and mitigation;
• Contribute to research planning and the formulation of new funding proposals on climate change adaptation and mitigation and commodity crop productivity and diversity;
• Produce scientific publications and other impact-oriented products;
• Coordinate and collaborate with other scientists who participate in the CCAFS programme, both within Bioversity and in other Centres and organizations as well as with the ProMusa working group;
Qualifications and competencies
Essential qualifications & competencies:
• PhD in field of agricultural or biological sciences such as ecophysiology, crop ecology, agronomy, plant biology, soil/plant relations, climatology; MSC with substantial work experience and publishing record may be considered.
• Application of statistical analysis and modeling to crop growth.
• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems and climate change modeling.
• Field experience with the study of ecophysiology of permanent crops.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to effectively interact with people at all levels and build consensus in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
• Excellent English language skills, both verbal and written
• Experience in the management of data bases, statistical packages and modeling tools.
• Record of relevant articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
Desirable qualifications and competencies:
• Experience with participatory training methods.
• Working knowledge of Spanish and or French.
Salaries and Benefits: This is a locally recruited position and all benefits are denominated and paid in Colombian pesos. The successful candidate will be contracted through CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical). The initial contract will be for a period of one year, renewable, with a probation period of 2 months.
Applications: Expressions of interest together will a full CV, highlighting your experience and skills against the requirements of the role should be directed to Maria Ximena Ocampo m.x.ocampo@cgiar.org no later than April 20, 2012.
Associate Scientist: Understanding the effect of climate and climate change on banana, cacao and coconut productivity and production systems
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