BACKGROUND:
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (http://www.ciat.cgiar.org) works to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (http://www.cgiar.org), a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. The Center's research focuses on increasing productivity of key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages), reversing soil and land degradation, and using information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate change and environmental management. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanoi, Vietnam, with staff posted in other developing countries as well.

The Position:
CIAT is seeking applications for a Researcher in Bioinformatics. The position offers an outstanding career opportunity for a researcher interested in plant genomics in the context of international agriculture. The researcher will be part of a multidisciplinary team working on genetic improvement of beans, cassava, forage grass species and rice. The position will be based at CIAT Headquarters in Palmira, Colombia.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze Whole Genome Sequencing and Genotyping by Sequencing data for CIAT's crops: bean, Brachiaria, cassava and rice
• Implement annotation pipelines to establish linkages between sequence annotation data and phenotypic characterization
• Implement and organize data mining for bean, Brachiaria, cassava and rice
• Develop bioinformatics tools to detect sequence-based genetic markers
• Develop pipelines for the assembly/alignment of next generation sequencing data, variant detection and annotation
• Supervise assistants and students in bioinformatics
• Contribute to the design of CIAT scientific program and Big Data strategy
• Publish results in journals and at conferences
• Develop internal and external collaborations
• Develop projects and apply for funding
• The researcher will be expected to work with data from different sequencing and genotyping platforms including Sanger, Illumina, PacBio, Fluidigm and BeadXpress. The position is part of an interdisciplinary team which includes plant breeders, geneticists, physiologists, entomologists and pathologists.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Ph.D. in the field of bioinformatics, computational biology or a similar discipline
• Experience in computer programming is essential. Knowledge of Perl, Python, Java, C languages. Knowledge of R language
• Experience in developing and deploying bioinformatics software is essential
• Experience with plant genomics is desirable
• Experience with phylogenetics software is also desirable
• Must be prepared to travel internationally
• Excellent communication skills in written & spoken English, and the ability to speak Spanish is desirable

Role Competencies:

• Goal-oriented
• Dynamic, forward thinking and creative with high ethical standards
• A strategic planner with sound analytical ability and good judgement
• Demonstrates facilitating skills and influencing skills
• A team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with people at all levels in a multi-cultural and multidisciplinary environment
• Values the sharing of information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning, and is committed to staff's development

TERMS:
The position is internationally recruited and will be based at Palmira, Colombia and reporting directly to Agrobiodiversity Research Area Director. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six (6) months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate's professional qualifications and work experience. All correspondence should be addressed to the CIAT Human Resources Office to Andrea Linares (z.a.linares[at]cgiar.org) and should clearly indicate "Bioinformatics Scientist".

POLICY:
CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. CIAT is an equal opportunity employer, and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality. Woman candidates from Latin America, Africa and Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.