Research Associate IITA

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. For more information, please visit www.iita.org/. IITA is seeking to employ the services of fully qualified and experienced Zambian nationals to fill up the following positions based in Lusaka.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

JOB SUMMARY:

To assist with LEG4Dev project nutrition and food safety research activities in Malawi and Zambia

1. MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify and model scaling routes for legume integration into cereal and root/tuber crop systems that can deliver improved nutrition and food safety outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa in the face of climate and other sustainability challenges.
• Enable greater use of biofortified legume varieties for developing food basket approaches to improve the seasonal supply of dietary diversity and nutrition to smallholder farming communities through the following activities:
• define more effective biofortified food baskets that contain legumes (whether biofortified or not);
• design (and test in robust designed trials) legume-containing biofortified food baskets and recipes that enhance the uptake of nutrients and reduce the effects of antinutritional factors.
• engage in an H+ field trial in Zambia of consumers of high-iron beans to determine whether micronutrient levels are elevated in plasma and are associated with health and nutritional outcomes.
• conduct trials to determine the effects of agronomic biofortification on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of different foods prepared from agronomically biofortified legume species.
• Measure the levels of micronutrients (iron, zinc) and antinutritional factors in biofortified and non-biofortified beans (or other legumes) sourced from the point of sale (to consumers) markets in each of the four countries.
• Ensure that all research ethics approval is in place at national level for all of the LEG4DEV project studies.
• Conduct gender focussed consumer/cultural and market acceptance studies to identify highly nutritious legumes for integration into cereal and root/tuber crop systems.
• Identify and model scaling routes for the reduction of aflatoxin- and fumonisin levels in food and feed derived from legumes and associated cereal and root/tuber crop systems in sub-Saharan Africa through the following activities:
• Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with selected scaling partners to refine further the highest impact research that can enable scaling of technologies/techniques for reducing mycotoxin levels in legumes by the actors in each legume species value chain in Malawi and Zambia.
• Assist in evaluating the legume crops for Aflatoxin and Fumonisin ( groundnuts) to identify varieties suitable for locally developing aflatoxin- and fumonisin-free nutritious legume-derived foods.
• Identify post-harvest processing and food technology approaches for the local development of aflatoxin- and fumonisin-free nutritious legume-derived foods and snacks through the following activities:
• develop and compile recipes for legume-fortified traditional and legume-based novel products, specifically focusing on using ingredients and techniques that reduce the risk of aflatoxin damage to human health.
• conduct a targeted survey-based study across Malawi and Zambia to understand the pros and cons of aflatoxin-free labeling in terms of (a) exports and (b) domestic consumption of legumes where there is a high potential for aflatoxin contamination.
• Work with IITA and the University of Galway partners on generation of publication quality stuidy designs, data collection/generation, data visualisation (Figures/Tables) and drafting of research manuscripts for high impactmulti-author journal publications from the research conducted within the LEG4DEV project.

QUALIFICATION AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• A minimum of master’s degree in food science and technology, Food microbiology, or other relevant disciplines from a recognized university.
• At least 2 years of relevant research experience in food science, technology and/or nutrition
• Experience in conducting food analyses (e.g., nutritional, microbial, and mycotoxins) and food processing and product development using different analytical methods.
• Experience in conducting food surveys and data collection.
• Proficiency in using relevant data analytical software, databases, internet-based tools, and other electronic communication tools.
• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Excellent writing and drafting skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

General information: The contract will be for an initial period of two (2) years. Renewal is dependent on performance and availability of funds.