Research Fellow – Developing Climate-Smart Forages for Resilient Livestock Systems in East Africa

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)]

Deadline: 22 May 2026

Job Description

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research Fellow under the supervision of the Forage Genebank team within the Livestock Genetics, Nutrition and Feed Resources Program.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR Research Centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The Forage Genebank at ILRI holds a diverse collection of tropical and subtropical forage accessions and related information. The genebank conserves nearly19,000 accessions from over 1,800 species. The collection is one of the most diverse collections of forage grasses, legumes and fodder trees held in any genebank in the world.  In addition to the routine genebank operations, the genebank also conducts characterization at agronomic, nutritional and genomic levels and add value to the collection through generating information and making available the seeds of the accessions to diverse users. https://www.ilri.org/research/facilities/ilri-genebank .

The position:

Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) have generated large volumes of genomic data that offer significant opportunities for accelerating breeding and genetic improvement programs. However, the increasing scale and complexity of these datasets require advanced bioinformatics expertise, robust analytical workflows, and strong data management systems to fully harness their potential.

Within the current research program, substantial genomic datasets have been generated from diverse forage germplasms. There is a critical need to systematically analyze, curate, and translate these data into actionable insights that support publication outputs, breeding decisions, and capacity development. In addition, strengthening institutional capacity in bioinformatics and statistical genomics is essential to ensure long-term sustainability and local expertise development.

Scope of the Fellowship:

The fellowship will focus on advanced genomic data analysis, interpretation, and capacity building. The Fellow will support the processing and analysis of WGS and GBS datasets, contribute to scientific publications, and enhance institutional capacity through training and mentorship in bioinformatics tools and programming (e.g., R, Linux, Python). The position is designed to bridge analytical gaps, strengthen research outputs, and support evidence-based breeding and genetic research initiatives.

Responsibilities:

1. Genomic Data Analysis and Reporting
   • Analyze and summarize Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) datasets.
   • Generate high-quality tables, figures, and summary statistics suitable for peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.
   • Contribute to manuscript preparation, including methods, results interpretation, and supplementary materials.
2. Field and Experimental Data Collection
   • Actively participate in field and/or laboratory data collection activities.
   • Ensure proper data recording, quality control, and adherence to established research protocols.
3. Capacity Building and Training
   • Provide hands-on training to students and junior researchers in R programming and bioinformatics workflows.
   • Develop training materials (scripts, tutorials, example datasets) to support sustainable capacity development.
   • Offer mentorship in genomic data analysis, visualization, and reproducible research practices.

Academic and professional qualifications:

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

1. Education
   • MSc degree in Bioinformatics, Genetics, Genomics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field.
2. Technical Expertise
   • Demonstrated experience in handling and analyzing large-scale datasets (e.g., WGS, GBS, or other high-throughput sequencing data).
   • Strong proficiency in R, Linux/Unix environments, and Python.
   • Experience with bioinformatics pipelines, genomic data processing tools, and reproducible workflows.
   • Familiarity with HPC environments and version control systems (e.g., Git) is an added advantage.
3. Analytical and Research Skills
   • Ability to generate publication-quality tables, figures, and statistical analyses.
   • Experience contributing to peer-reviewed publications is desirable.
4. Additional Competencies
   • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
   • Ability to train and mentor students or junior researchers.
   • Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
5. Must be a staff member of a National Agricultural Research Institute or organization.

Post location: The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Fellowship Duration: 6 months.

Terms of appointment and benefits: ILRI will offer a monthly stipend to cover living expenses in the project location, medical insurance, and cover research expenses. The fellow will be co-supervised by academic and ILRI supervisor(s) and receive various capacity development opportunities at ILRI.

How to Apply:

All applications MUST include the following (applications not containing these documents will not be considered):

• a cover letter addressed to the Senior Manager – Capacity Development ILRI, expressing interest in the fellowship position and the motivation. The position title and reference number (REF: ILRI RF/LGNF/01/2026) should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.
• CV, including names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• academic qualification certificates/transcripts.

Applications must be submitted through: >>https://www.ilri.org/ by clicking on the “APPLY NOW” tab on or before 22nd May 2025.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org

 ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.