Postdoctoral Fellow Crop Physiology - Banana Evaluation from Lab to Farm, ColombiaAbout the position:
The Bioversity for Food and Agricultural Lever is currently seeking a professional in the field of Banana Evaluation. The selected candidate will complement the phenotyping teams dedicated to bananas and beans and will use our online transpiration monitoring platforms in Cali to model transpiration behavior and conduct field evaluations across various agroecological zones. We are recognized as a home for the international banana collection and a leading center for banana diversity research. The position will be based in the operations center of the Americas, located in the Campus of Palmira, Colombia.
Responsibilities:
Collaborate and coordinate with the technical phenotyping team to screen bananas for climate change adaptation and drought tolerance.Design and execute greenhouse, field, and farmer experiments under the guidance of the principal scientist to evaluate banana cultivars for climate change adaptation and drought tolerance.Ensure coordination and interaction between the phenotyping work, the beans team, and the banana agronomy and protection team.Supervise and characterize the banana field collection at Future Seeds.Provide project-related updates to donors and stakeholders.Assist in fundraising efforts and resource mobilization.Advise teams on research progress and identify any issues in experiment implementation and data quality.Engage and interact with banana and bean characterization and evaluation research teams in Leuven, Montpellier, and Kawanda.Collaborate with the digital inclusion TRICOT team and the PISA team to translate outcomes into impactful solutions for farmers.Develop experiment plans and layouts in consultation with the supervisor.Conduct and execute data analysis related to projects.Supervise technical staff and students in collecting, verifying, and curating climatic and agronomic data in formats suitable for processing, analysis, and storage.Collect soil and plant samples, as well as related data, for molecular analyses when necessary.Manage day-to-day labor requirements of the local team to ensure smooth experiment operations.Support, supervise, and train junior technical staff under the guidance of the supervisor to maintain high-quality research and meet objectives within resource and time constraints.
Expected deliverables for the position: Rigorous and sound data production and analysis from the above experiments. Regular reports of progress on different activities at screen house, field, and farm levels. Continuation and generation of peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and donor reports. Contribution to the preparation of research proposals and related fundraising activities.
Qualifications and requirements:
PhD in Biology, Agriculture, Plant Physiology, or Crop Improvement from a reputable university.Minimum of 5 to 7 years' experience conducting phenotyping work.Proficiency in data collection and analysis using Android-based applications (e.g., Fieldbook), with exposure to data analysis software such as Musabase, Genstat, or R.Excellent mathematical and modeling skills.Willingness and ability to travel long distances as required.Dedication and commitment to the organization's mission and core values.Methodical, well-organized, and structured approach to work.Flexibility and adeptness at meeting deadlines.Advanced English level (oral and written).
Competences:
Excellent problem-solving skills.Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.Proper work planning.Strong communication abilities, both written and oral, in English and Spanish.Capability to work independently while also contributing effectively as a team member.Demonstrated proficiency in personal organization, priority setting, and attention to detail.Flexibility and adeptness at meeting deadlines.Results-driven with a proactive learning mindset.Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with individuals from diverse cultural and national backgrounds.
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