Scientist

Scientist - Plant Pathology & Biocontrol

ICRISAT seeks applications from highly motivated Indian Nationals for the position of Scientist - Plant Pathology & Biocontrol to support the legumes pathology and biocontrol unit under the Global Research Program, Accelerated Crop Improvement. This position is based at ICRISAT Headquarters, at Patancheru, Telangana, India.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit -

Responsibilities:

• To develop early detection and precision phenotyping tools to enhance disease diagnosis, quantification, and deliver actionable intelligence to farmers.
• Support on-going projects on disease detection, soil health and microbiome interaction including research on biocontrol agents, including their modes of action, formulation development, and application methods, to optimize biocontrol strategies for improving soil and plant health management.
• Investigate composition and dynamics of plant-microbiome interactions and explore microbiome engineering approaches to improve biocontrol efficacy and overall plant performance.
• Generate data on the impact of climate change on crop disease resistance, beneficial soil microflora, and associated risk distributions.
• Engage actively with partners and stakeholders to strengthen capacity on sustainable and bio-based disease management approaches.
• Facilitate field and greenhouse screening of breeding materials, germplasm, and elite lines for legume disease resistance, in close collaboration with ICRISAT teams and other partners.
• Provide scientific leadership and collaborate on the development of disease screening protocols and phenotyping platforms to enable reproducible screening and identification of stable resistance sources.
• Supervise and lead technical staff, support personnel, and students involved in plant protection and biocontrol research.
• Collaborate with internal and external research programs to design, implement, and lead innovative R&D initiatives aligned with the above areas.
• Communicate research findings effectively to stakeholders, contribute to project reporting, and support resource mobilization efforts.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by ICRISAT or the supervising authority, as needed.

Eligibility and Qualification:

• A Ph.D. in Agricultural Plant Pathology, Plant Protection, or a related field, with a minimum of 05 years of post-Ph.D. experience in host plant resistance, disease screening, biocontrol, and integrated disease management approaches.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in teams, with a focus on improving farmers' incomes through innovative pest and disease management strategies, particularly in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven expertise in plant-microbe interaction studies, biocontrol, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and data analysis.
• Experience in designing, data analysis and implementing systems-based approaches or modules for pest and disease management and improving plant health across various agro-ecosystems.
• Strong ability to work in international, cross-cultural, and collaborative research environments.
• Theoretical knowledge of genetics and plant breeding is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships and work harmoniously with partners and stakeholders in an outcome focused and multi-disciplinary team environment.
• A strong track record in proposal development, project execution, budget management, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• High aptitude for collaborative and collegial work in diverse, multicultural environments.
• Willingness to travel within the region and internationally as required.

General:

This is a contractual role for a period of 36 months (03 years). renewable subject to performance of new incumbent, funding availability and continuing need for the position.

How to apply:

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Shortlisting will start from 25 September 2025. All Applicants should apply with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining a progressive and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether they have a disability.