Crop Science and Remote Sensing Specialist-CIMMYT
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Crop Science and Remote Sensing Specialist
About Us
CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. We are entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. For more information, visit cimmyt.org. CIMMYT is hosted by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), a member of the CGIAR, headquartered on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry by accessing our web sites: www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org.
Position Overview
CIMMYT is looking for a Crop Science and Remote Sensing Specialist to support crop breeding and seed systems activities. This position will deliver integrated agronomic, physiological, and remote sensing support through effective trial management, high-quality phenotyping, and application of remote sensing tools to inform varietal performance, stress adaptation, and management decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Agronomy
- Design, implement, and oversee on-station and on-farm agronomic trials aligned with breeding and seed systems research objectives.
- Optimize agronomic packages (plant population, nutrient management, water management, and cropping systems).
- Ensure standardized agronomic protocols and data quality across locations.
- Monitor crop growth and field conditions, ensuring uniformity and trial integrity.
- Maintain accurate agronomic records for all trials.
- Analyze agronomic trial data and contribute to interpretation of G×E×M interactions.
Crop Physiology
- Identify and quantify key physiological traits associated with yield, stress tolerance, and resource-use efficiency.
- Support phenotyping for drought, heat, nutrient stress, and other priority constraints through implementation of standardized phenotyping protocols across sites and seasons.
- Integrate physiological trait data with agronomic and breeding datasets to inform varietal selection and targeting.
- Conduct physiological experiments under field and controlled conditions (where applicable/necessary).
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analytics
- Deploy and operate remote sensing tools such as UAVs/drones, handheld sensors, and proximal platforms for data collection.
- Process and analyze imagery and sensor data.
- Acquire and process imagery from satellites, drones, and aerial platforms.
- Apply vegetation indices and spatial analytics for crop monitoring, stress detection, and trial quality assessment.
- Integrate remote sensing and GIS data with field and physiological data for high-throughput phenotyping.
- Produce spatial maps, dashboards, and visual products for technical reporting.
- Map potential distribution area of various stresses, diseases, and pests using environmental variables associated with their occurrence.
Integration, Capacity Building, and Reporting
- Synthesize agronomic, physiological, and remote sensing evidence into actionable recommendations.
- Provide technical backstopping and training to partners, field teams, and national programs.
- Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, and donor deliverables.
- Support data documentation, reproducibility, and knowledge management.
Qualifications and Experience
- MSc in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, and Remote Sensing (or related field).
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in applied agricultural research.
- Demonstrated experience integrating field trials, physiological measurements, and remote sensing data.
- Strong quantitative and data analysis skills (e.g., R, Python, GIS platforms, Google Earth Engine, ArcMap).
- Experience working in multi-disciplinary and multi-location projects.
- Prior engagement with international, CGIAR, NARS, or donor-funded programs is an advantage.
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