The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) is seeking a Crop Science and Remote Sensing Specialist for the CIMMYT program. This role is responsible for designing and implementing agronomic trials, conducting crop physiological research, and utilizing advanced remote sensing technologies to improve crop monitoring and phenotyping. The successful candidate will integrate field-based observations with geospatial analytics to provide actionable insights for breeding and seed systems research.
Key Responsibilities
Agronomy
Design, implement, and oversee on-station and on-farm agronomic trials aligned with breeding and seed systems research objectives.
Optimize agronomic packages including plant population, nutrient management, water management, and cropping systems.
Ensure standardized agronomic protocols and data quality across multiple locations.
Monitor crop growth and field conditions, ensuring uniformity and trial integrity.
Maintain accurate agronomic records and analyze trial data, contributing to the interpretation of G&E&M interactions.
Crop Physiology
Identify and quantify key physiological traits associated with yield, stress tolerance, and resource-use efficiency.
Support phenotyping for drought, heat, nutrient stress, and other priority constraints using standardized protocols.
Integrate physiological trait data with agronomic and breeding datasets to inform varietal selection.
Conduct physiological experiments under both field and controlled conditions.
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analytics
Deploy and operate remote sensing tools such as UAVs/drones, handheld sensors, and proximal platforms for data collection.
Process and analyze imagery and sensor data from satellites, drones, and aerial platforms.
Apply vegetation indices and spatial analytics for crop monitoring, stress detection, and trial quality assessment.
Integrate remote sensing and GIS data with field data for high-throughput phenotyping.
Produce spatial maps, dashboards, and visual products for technical reporting.
Map potential distribution areas of stresses, diseases, and pests using environmental variables.
Integration, Capacity Building, and Reporting
Synthesize agronomic, physiological, and remote sensing evidence into actionable recommendations.
Provide technical backstopping and training to partners, field teams, and national programs.
Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, and donor deliverables.
Support data documentation, reproducibility, and knowledge management.
Requirements
MSc in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, or Remote Sensing.
Minimum 3–5 years of experience in applied agricultural research.
Demonstrated experience integrating field trials, physiological measurements, and remote sensing data.
Strong quantitative and data analysis skills (e.g., R, Python, GIS platforms, Google Earth Engine, ArcMap).
Experience working in multi-disciplinary and multi-location projects.
Prior engagement with international organizations (CGIAR, NARS) or donor-funded programs is an advantage.
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