Assistant Research Associate – Maize Product Development

About the role

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is seeking an Assistant Research Associate to support maize product development in its Southern Africa Office. The role is based in Harare, Zimbabwe, and involves hands‑on work in field, greenhouse and laboratory settings to advance breeding pipelines.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in nursery establishment and maintenance for inbred lines, DH lines, single crosses and three‑way hybrids.
• Support controlled pollinations, tagging and documentation of breeding materials.
• Help set up, manage and harvest maize trials across multiple Southern Africa locations, including land preparation, planting, fertilisation, irrigation and data capture.
• Collect accurate phenotypic data and use digital tools (tablets, fieldbook) for field data entry.
• Perform data cleaning, validation and preliminary summaries using the EBS system.
• Support seed processing activities such as harvesting, shelling, drying, treatment, storage and inventory record‑keeping.
• Coordinate logistics and monitor inputs, equipment and safety compliance for field operations.

Required profile

• Zimbabwean national with an excellent academic record.
• Highly motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Required skills

• Experience with field data collection tools (e.g., tablets, fieldbook).
• Proficiency in using the EBS (Enterprise Breeding System) for data management.
• Knowledge of seed handling, nursery management and trial establishment.

What we offer

• Opportunity to contribute to impactful maize breeding programs in the Global South.
• Hands‑on experience in cutting‑edge agricultural research.