Postdoctoral Research Associate Position - Michigan State University

Description

Responsibilities for this position include overseeing an expansion of the USAID-funded, IITA project ‘Africa RISING’ in Malawi, coordinated by Dr. Regis Chikowo Assistant Professor, Michigan State University. We have a unique opportunity in Malawi to link our farming systems research project - which was initiated in 2012 with support from the USAID Food Security Bureau - to USAID Malawi Mission flagship programs, Integrated Nutrition Value Chain (INVC) and Strengthening Agriculture and Nutrition Extension (SANE). Our research focuses on elucidating drivers of sustainable intensification among smallholder farming communities, including testing rotation and mixtures of cereal grains with diverse grain legumes, to diversity crop production, buffer against climate variability and improve soil health. Working closely with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, CGIAR scientists and extension workers we are supporting innovation and capacity to improve soils, and providing nutritious options for market and family use through sustainable intensification technologies.

We have built a learning lab in Central Malawi for action research and applied agroecology, including multidisciplinary approaches with agricultural economists, gender-aware science and geographers. Learn more about findings to date, the research team and partners at http://globalchangescience.org/eastafricanode  

This postdoc position will be based in Malawi, with travel to MSU and across Africa as Africa RISING involves activities in six priority countries of Feed the Future. There will be opportunities for independent research, and publication expectations in addition to management of a team of four staff and expanded action research and education activities in central and southern Malawi. Supervision of graduate students is expected and opportunities to interact with modelers and economists to explore interface of farmer practice, plant and water interactions for risk mitigation in a changing environment. Areas of inquiry will depend on the interests of the successful candidate, but could include soil science and agronomic aspects of ecological intensification pathways, understanding drivers of adoption and adaptation, and multiple scale exploration of sustainable intensification indicators associated with production, economics, environment and social science domains and sustainable production methods. At MSU postdoc positions are offered on a year to year basis, with renewal based on satisfactory performance and project duration, which in this case is three years.

Duty Location: Malawi

Department: Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Supervisor: Dr. Sieglinde Snapp, Professor of Soils and Cropping Systems Ecology

For further information contact Sieglinde Snapp snapp@msu.edu or Regis Chikowo chikowor@msu.edu .