Senior Research Associate (Statistical Modeller) (CIAT)

Job Description

Based in: Hanoi, Vietnam
Initial contract: 1 year
Salary: VND 29,629,345
Deadline: 08/04/2024

The organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (The Alliance) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. The Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Alliance is looking for a highly skilled data Senior Research Associate to support the agroclimatology team in crop-climate modelling. This work will feed into a user-friendly platform which enables private sector sourcing companies, agronomic teams, farmers, and researchers to explore climate layers, risk and opportunity areas for crop production as well as environmental trends over time.

Key duties and responsibilities

Research and Analysis:

Conduct in-depth analysis on crop physiology, productivity and trend analysis;
Develop machine learning and statistical models (e.g. GAMs) to understand crop-climate interactions and future climate impact on crop production;
Be comfortable in using and analyzing climate data from diverse sources and models (ie Copernicus, WorldClim, TerraClimate);
Integrate diverse datasets, including climate models, satellite imagery, and agronomic data, to enhance the accuracy of predictions;
Apply systems thinking methodologies to analyze interactions, feedback loops, and emergent behaviors within the targeted systems.

Communication and Outreach:

Communicate research findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences, and other relevant channels;
Engage with other research teams (business impact modelling) to communicate findings and outputs.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

Collaborate with experts from various disciplines, including ecology, sociology, economics, and policy, to foster a holistic understanding of complex systems.

Continuous Learning:

Stay abreast of the latest developments in agroclimatology, complexity theory, and plant physiology research.
Actively seek opportunities for professional development and contribute to building the knowledge base within the organization.

Required qualifications and experience:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Agricultural meteorology, climate science, ecology, environmental science) with work experience;
Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods;
Strong programming skills for model development (e.g., Python, R);
Strong working knowledge of GIS;
Familiarity with climate modeling tools, remote sensing techniques, and relevant software;
Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines;
Demonstrated experience in applying systems thinking to real-world socio-ecological problems;
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment;
Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, verbally and in writing, in English.

Terms of employment

This position is a national recruited position based in Hanoi, Vietnam. The initial contract will be for 1 year, subject to a probation period of 2 months, and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG07 level, with a minimum basic salary of VND 29,629,345 in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to monthly allowances, insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number 103489-Senior Research Associate (Statistical Modeller) as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting (Cover letter should illustrate your motivation to apply and suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities. Detailed curriculum vitae should include the names and email addresses of three professional referees who are knowledgeable about your skills and professional abilities). The Alliance collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.