IRS26256 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Sorghum Breeding (Internationally recruited)

Location: Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya

Department: Dryland Crops Program (DCP)

Workplace: on_site

Employment Type: full

Description

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Associate Breeder) to support the sorghum breeding program, with a strong focus on rapid cycling genomic selection (RCGS), sparse testing, and breeding pipeline integration. The position will play a strategic role in working with partners across East and Southern Africa (ESA), particularly within the Africa Dryland Crops Improvement Network (ADCIN), to implement innovations in regional breeding pipelines.

The successful candidate will provide hands-on technical leadership for practical breeding operations, including collaborating with quantitative geneticists for population development, sparse multi-location testing, and field validation of prediction outputs. The role will work closely with the ESA ADCIN network of breeders on nursery and trial execution to enable selection decisions for accelerated population development across target environments.

This position will strengthen the interface between advanced analytics and field delivery by linking quantitative tools, breeding operations, and regional partner implementation within a shared breeding framework, contributing to CGIAR’s broader emphasis on modern, efficient breeding systems, stronger national and regional partnerships, capacity development, and faster delivery of climate-resilient crop improvement solutions for smallholder farmers in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with quantitative geneticists, breeders, technicians, and partners to translate genomic and predictive analytics into crossing and population development decisions.
• Support the senior breeder in the deployment of advanced breeding innovations across the ADCIN sorghum network in ESA, including recurrent and rapid-cycle genomic selection, and the identification, crossing, selection, and advancement of breeding populations.
• Coordinate sparse multi-location testing and multi-environment validation across target environments, working with partners on trial planning, site selection, deployment, and phenotyping.
• Support high-quality data generation through trial management, quality control, harvest, and sample handling, and collaborate with biometricians and quantitative geneticists on data analysis and interpretation.
• Support the integration of predictive breeding and data-driven decision-making into routine breeding pipelines across CIMMYT and partner programs.
• Prepare and contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, presentations, capacity Development, and other knowledge products that document activities, results, and outcomes.

Requirements

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Agronomy, or a closely related discipline, obtained within the least five years, or expected to graduate within the next six months.
• Experience in field-based breeding research, multi-environment trials, or breeding pipeline implementation in sorghum.
• Strong working knowledge of genomic selection, breeding data systems, and quantitative genetics.
• Demonstrated ability to work with breeders, field teams, and data analysts in applied breeding environments.
• Proven track record in publications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience with sparse testing, RCGS, predictive breeding, or rapid generation advancement in sorghum are desirable.

Skills and attitudes

• Field research coordination, leadership and implementation skills.
• Translation of advanced breeding concepts into practical operational decisions.
• Problem-solving and attention to detail.
• Teamwork and collaboration across institutions and disciplines.
• Initiative, adaptability, and willingness to work in field and analytical environments.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed-term for two (2) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.

Candidates must. Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Internal applications could be considered in line with internal eligibility guidance, please contact HR for more information.

This position will remain open until filled.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.