Background: The Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI), incorporated in 2000 as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 212), became legally constituted and operational in September 2001 with the major objective of rejuvenating the Tanzania coffee industry to sustainable prosperity, placing new emphasis on stakeholder-led, demand-driven RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

TaCRI is now seeking to employ dynamic, committed, responsible, and self-motivated people to fill the following vacant posts for a contract of three years renewable based on productivity/performance and continued need.

Plant Pathologist (1 Post)

Location:       Kilimanjaro, TaCRI Lyamungu

Reports to: Programme Manager(Coffee Research Improvement Programme)

The key function of the Plant Pathologist is to provide support to Plant breeders to ensure that improved coffee varieties developed with combined attributes of disease resistance, extensive knowledge in molecular technologies and statistics, knowledge of the existing and the biology of the major as well as minor coffee diseases and their management strategies; screening for resistance strategies to be applied; basic laboratory approaches for preliminary identification of the pathogen; epidemiological studies to formulate disease forecasting and suggests the timing of control measures, and application of molecular studies to ensure durable disease resistance.

Roles and responsibilities:

Support Plant Breeding and provide information to stakeholders pending forecasting or existence of coffee diseases for managing the pathogen. Specific responsibilities include:

1. To support Plant breeder in identifying coffee accessions with durable disease resistance to be used in crossing programmes or to develop as a variety.
2. To suggest appropriate techniques for screening disease resistance for existing or emerging diseases.

• To perform the application of inoculation for viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other related pathogens to measure the resistance of accessions or Koch’s postulates for identification of the pathogen.

1. To study the epidemiology of a coffee pathogen and suggest appropriate control measures.
2. To conduct Bio-assays with pathogens.
3. To perform routine data collection from various research projects and entry into systems results for analysis using parametric or non-parametric statistical tools and draw inferences.

• To perform direct simple or complex laboratory work as a routine or special task.
• To lead a cross-functional team in innovating, developing, and enabling new phenotyping, diagnostic, and other assays for existing and new problems.

Plant Pathology skills

The ideal candidate must have a strong understanding of Plant Pathology and pests, in general, applicable to coffee.

Academic qualification: At least an MSc in Crop Protection/Plant Pathology with proven records of achievement. Candidates must be computer literate with outstanding communication skills.

Work Experience: At least two (2) years of working experience in Plant Pathology and agricultural research activities. Experience with gains with the private sector and hands-on participatory approach especially working with plant laboratories will be an added advantage.

Conditions for application:

• A well-written application letter.
• Applicants must attach an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae with three reputable referees’ contacts, email addresses and certified copies of academic certificates.
• All applications must reach the Chief Executive Director through the postal address belowfand not by email).