Assistant Research Associate – Regional Testing & Breeding Data Management

About the role

The Assistant Research Associate will support CIMMYT’s Southern Africa office in Harare by coordinating regional on‑farm trials, collecting high‑quality physiological and agronomic data, and managing breeding datasets on digital platforms. The role combines field implementation, phenotyping, and data‑management responsibilities to strengthen crop research for smallholder farmers.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement on‑farm trials with farmers, NARS, seed companies and research partners, ensuring adherence to trial protocols.
• Conduct field visits, provide technical guidance, and oversee harvesting, yield measurement and documentation of field conditions.
• Develop and apply standardized phenotyping and physiological data collection protocols, operating sensors, GPS devices, moisture meters, weather stations and digital tools.
• Train field teams and ensure accurate, high‑quality data capture across trial sites.
• Capture, clean, validate and quality‑assure data using EBS Fieldbook, Kobo Collect, ODK and related platforms.
• Compile, curate and upload phenotypic, agronomic, environmental and farmer‑feedback datasets to EBS, ensuring they are analysis‑ready and well documented.
• Monitor logistics, inputs and equipment for field operations and ensure compliance with safety and procedural standards.

Required profile

• Zimbabwean national with an excellent academic record.
• Motivated, detail‑oriented and able to work independently in field environments.

Required skills

• Use of field sensors, GPS devices, moisture meters and weather stations.
• Digital data collection tools (EBS Fieldbook, Kobo Collect, ODK).
• Data cleaning, validation and quality assurance.