Post Doctoral Fellow – Agricultural and Climate Change Management

INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Tel: 94-11-2880000, Fax: 94-11-2786854, Email: work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org 
Internet Home Page: http://www.iwmi.org

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Post Doctoral Fellow – Agricultural and Climate Change Management

IWMI seeks a highly competent and motivated individual for the position of Post Doctoral Fellow in Agricultural and Climate Change Management who has experience and/or interest in tropical agricultural production systems. The incumbent will join a multidisciplinary team of researchers who are working to understand the impacts of climate change, land use change, and water resources development on agricultural water availability and quality in the Lower Mekong Basin in order to provide recommendations for both technical and institutional/policy interventions that can improve livelihoods of the rural poor in this context. S/he will bring expertise on soil carbon cycling, examining the interactions between soil management, water use and potential climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and storage in tropical agricultural systems.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a non-profit, scientific organization engaged in research and capacity building activities for developing countries. Our mission is to overcome poverty through the better management of land and water resources. Working with diverse partners and supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), IWMI seeks to translate its research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, resource managers and poor rural communities. IWMI is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka and has regional offices located in 12 countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Location: The position will be based at IWMI South East Asia office, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Reporting: The Post Doctoral Fellow will work under the guidance of the Principal Soil Scientist based in Vientiane.

Job Purpose:
To contribute to water, agricultural and climate change management issues in South East Asia; more specifically in examining how the agricultural sector could play a pivotal role in addressing, mitigating and assisting in adaptation to climate change AND researching the dynamics of soil carbon cycling in tropical systems where orders of magnitude are higher than that in temperate regions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Contribute to multidisciplinary research projects in Southeast Asia, providing expertise in the area of carbon cycling, investigating soil carbon storage associated with external interventions and crop/tree root systems that aim at reversing soil degradation, improve productivity, and adapting to climate variability and change;

2. Design and implement and/or supervise data collection and analysis associated with field activities on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Conduct research in rainfed production systems in the tropics aiming to identify interventions that increase above ground biomass productivity, root biomass, transient carbon sequestration and water holding capacity;

3. Characterise the nature, distribution, stability and mobility of the carbon in coarse-textured soils subject to clay additions;

4. Study the role of the root systems of grasses/perennial trees in humid tropics in carbon sequestration;

5. Assist in the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies for the tropics and contribute to a regulatory framework for carbon trading in tropical/sub-tropical land use systems;

6. Provide overall expertise in the area of agronomy and (ideally) water resources to emerging research projects in Southeast Asia;

7. Design and implement and/or supervise data collection and analysis associated with field activities on climate change mitigation and adaptation;

8. Prepare research reports, journal articles for publication and conference/seminar papers.

Selection Criteria:

The following outlines the attributes required and the criteria against which applications will be assessed:

Qualifications:
ESSENTIAL
• PhD in agronomy, soil science, agricultural water management or related discipline.

Experience & Knowledge:

ESSENTIAL
• Expertise in the areas of soil science, carbon cycle and soil carbon analysis.
• Experience in collection of field data.
• Knowledge of statistical tools and packages for data analysis.
• Record of relevant peer-reviewed articles in international journals.

DESIRABLE
• Understanding of climate change mitigation issues and options through soil and water management.
• Experience in field agronomy in tropical agricultural production systems.
• Knowledge of agricultural and water management in Southeast Asia.

Skills & Abilities:
ESSENTIAL
• Excellent command of both oral and written English
• Strong analytical and numerical skills
• Ability to effectively establish priorities, plan, organize, implement and monitor work activities
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural environment; sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Previous work experience in developing countries, and /or in the international context

Salary and Benefits:
Post doctoral contract is available for two years and is non renewable. IWMI salaries are competitive with those of similar international institutions and offer a range of benefits including housing and utilities allowance, vehicle allowance, education allowance, annual home leave, health insurance package and shipping assistance.

How to Apply:
To apply for this post:
• Complete application form http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/
• Attach your résumé.
• Attach a letter of application, which specifically addresses the selection criteria outlined in the table above; include the names and addresses of 3 referees who may be contacted if you are shortlisted.
• Submit online.

If you do not receive an automatic acknowledgement email within 24 hours of sending your application, then contact: The Human Resources Office, IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Email: work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org 

Application deadline: 27 July 2010 – or until the position is filled

Selection Process:

There may be telephone interviews for short-listed candidates. Final selection interviews are likely to be held either in Vientiane, Laos or Colombo, Sri Lanka (HQ).

For further information visit IWMI - http://www.iwmi.org 

IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality.

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