JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Ref: IRS/17/RD/September 2011
Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) in Climate Risk Assessment
The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is looking for a highly qualified Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) in Climate Risk Assessment to be based at the AfricaRice research station in Saint Louis, Senegal.
About AfricaRice
The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is an association of 24 African member states and one of the 15 international Centers supported by the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). The Center’s mission is to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa, through research, development and partnership activities aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of the rice sector in ways that ensure the sustainability of the farming environment. AfricaRice is temporarily headquartered in Cotonou, Benin.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the CIRAD/AfricaRice agro-climatologist, the PDF will work for the ANR funded project on ‘ESCAPE – Environmental and Social Changes in Africa: Past, present and future’ within AfricaRice’s Sustainable Productivity Enhancement Program. The PDF is part of a multidisciplinary team working to sustain and improve the productivity of rice-based systems.
His/her duties are:
· Validation and calibration of crop models such as Ridev, Samara or Oryza on a set of varieties: based on (i) data and information coming from previous or parallel projects, (ii) crop monitoring in farmers’ fields, and (iii) existing databases of AfricaRice and partners;
· Analysis of the cropping calendars (and farmer’s varieties), their risks and constraints, and their eventual recent evolutions based on (i) agronomical surveys and (ii) existing databases of AfricaRice and partners;
· Assessment of the possible impact of rain occurring at flowering: by yield-gaps analysis on data coming from databases of AfricaRice and partners;
· Simulations with validated crop models on actual and past climatic data in order to (i) define optimal sowing windows, (ii) assess risks associated to those windows, and (iii) understand possible changes in farmer’s practices;
· Simulations with validated crop models on future climatic data;
· Synthesis of collected data on birds’ damage on rice in Senegal and Mali in databases, reports of local institutes (importance, year, period, sites, local features, etc.) and through farmer surveys;
· Exploration of potential links between damage, climate and vegetation development;
· Elaboration of recommendations for crop insurance;
- Publish research results in refereed journals;
- Contribute to AfricaRice’s resource mobilization efforts;
- Undertake any other duties as required by the needs of the Center.
Qualification
The selected candidate should have a:
- PhD in agronomy or agro-climatology;
- Good experience and skills in crop modelling;
- Good publication record;
- Good inter-personal skills and ability to perform in a multicultural environment;
· Research experience in sub-Saharan Africa is considered as an advantage;
· Research experience in rice is also considered as an advantage.
Terms and Conditions
· This is an Internationally Recruited position.
· AfricaRice provides attractive international salary and benefits package and a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment.
· The appointment is for two years with possibility for renewal
Application procedure:
Candidates should send an application (including date of availability and a statement of any special qualifications for the position) and an up-to-date curriculum vitae with the names and addresses (including telephone / fax / e-mail) of three referees to:
Human Resources Department, AfricaRice
01 BP 2031 Cotonou, Benin
F: + (229) 21 35 05 56; T: (229) 21 35 01 88
Email: africarice-hr@cgiar.org
Applications will be considered up to October, 30 2011 or until the position is filled.
AfricaRice believes that staff diversity promotes excellence in its operations, and encourages applications from women and developing country professionals.
AfricaRice thanks all applicants but only the short listed candidates will be contacted.
To learn more about AfricaRice, please visit our website at www.AfricaRice.org.
Post-Doctoral Fellow - Climate Risk Assessment Africa Rice Center
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