Associate Scientist

The Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) is a major component of the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) that is being established in India by IRRI, with strong support from the Government of India to enhance research and training capability in the South Asian and African regions enabling production of rice with superior grain qualities. Under the general direction of the Scientist, the Associate Scientist will conceptualize, plan and conduct research studies including activities such as preparation, improvement and/or development of necessary research tools, data collection, analysis and interpretation. The role involves working closely with collaborating partner(s), exchanging information and presenting research findings (in seminars, conferences, publications). The Associate Scientist will also coordinate and prepare training sessions for a range of stakeholders, supervise, train and guide scholars, on-the-job trainees, researchers and research technicians. The Associate Scientist will work widely across grain quality and nutritional components covering aroma, fatty acids, and food safety aspects with a major focus on GC and GC-MS based techniques, to contribute significantly to the research and service missions of CERVA

The position will be based at ISARC, Varanasi.

**Roles and Responsibilities**: To plan and design experiments and research studies in the field of biochemistry of rice grain using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other gas chromatographic techniques coupled with flame ionization detector (FID) or electron capture detector (ECD).
- Prepare research plan, experimental design, statistical design, and timetable of the research activities.
- Execute planned research activities using GC-MS/GC-FID on targeted analysis of molecules which includes fatty acids, aromatic compounds, other volatile molecules present in rice and other food products and pesticide residues.
- Execute research activities on untargeted volatile analysis from rice and other food matrices and identify them using the NIST library.
- Learn and implement analytical technologies related to GC-MS for evaluating the nutritional and aromatic properties of rice grain and food safety.
- Develop/implement appropriate protocols for the targeted and untargeted analysis of nutritional quality parameters using GC-MS as per the requirements.
- Ensure smooth functioning of the laboratory by organizing research requirements like procuring all the necessary chemicals, materials and routine maintenance of the equipment.
- Train and supervise technicians, interns, students on sample preparation for experiments, standard solution, buffer preparation, equipment handling etc.
- Assist scientists, Post-Doctoral Fellows, students and/or trainees in preparing reports and summarizing the research outputs.
- Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) as per the requirements and ensure following all the existing SOPs in the laboratory.
- Prepare the training program and organize and coordinate training for on-job trainees and interns.
- Contribute to professional service activities such as strategic committees or task forces etc.
- Act as resource person for training courses and visitors.
- Interpret the outcome of the experimental results/data using appropriate statistical tools.

Contribute to the scientific publication in peer reviewed journals and report writings. Coordinate with the quality manager of the laboratory on different aspects of ISO 17025 and help in the implementation and adherence to the policies and SOPs established in the laboratory.
- Meet with project leaders and/or collaborators to discuss the scope of specific research areas in the laboratory
- Closely coordinate with the Head of Grain Quality and Nutrition Centre at IRRI Headquarters and key scientist(s) at CERVA to develop new projects to strengthen research in the area of rice grain quality.
- Present research studies at seminars and/or conferences (local/international)
- Mentor team members in the process of establishing and maintaining experiment(s)
- Prepare training materials and acts as a resource person in training within and outside IRRI
- Organize and coordinate trainings for on-job trainees and interns
- Act as resource person for training courses and visitors
- Contribute to professional service activities such as strategic committees or task forces etc.
- Supervise the work of Researchers and/or Research Technicians
- Manage other activities such as services sourced out from other units and /or contractors
- Ensure that research procedures follow the experimental protocol as described in the outline
- Consolidate, verify and analyze collected data using appropriate advanced statistical tools independently
- Draw conclusions from the research studies
- Prepare reports, scientific papers, articles, posters, database for publication and presentation Responsible for the professional development of Researchers

**Skills Required**: