Job Reference Number: ARC-VIMP1208002
Department: 09 - RVOPI
Industry: Research
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related
The ARC-Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants (ARC-VIMP) seeks to appoint a highly skilled, experienced, and dynamic person to the following positions at Roodeplaat, Pretoria:
Job Description
- Oversees the management of (supervision of lab managers) for the various in vitro/tissue culture labs (Conservation tissue culture labs, commercial tissue culture lab, quarantine tissue culture lab and mutation breeding tissue culture lab) and associated green/glasshouse infrastructure.
- Initiates and manages research projects on plant tissue culture, method development and optimization of existing protocols.
- Conducts specific research with focus on developing supporting technologies (somatic embryogenesis, cryopreservation, meristem culture etc.) for mass propagation, virus elimination and in vitro breeding.
- Actively sources and secures new research opportunities and funding related to plant tissue culture.
- Compiles quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports (internal and external).
- Captures, analyses, and interprets data.
- Provides leadership, supervision and mentoring of postgraduate students, researchers, research technicians and assistants.
- Contributes towards the seed systems development by optimizing the functions of the commercial tissue culture lab.
- Human resources management to ensure efficient deployment and utilisation, setting objective assessment and training.
- Disseminates technology through peer-reviewed scientific articles, popular publications, manual production, radio, and TV talks, etc.
- Initiates links and collaborates with national and international organisations.
- Trains postgraduate students and technical personnel in the use of specialised analytical instruments and associated software.
- Compliance with human resource policies and procedures.
- Compliance with occupational health and safety policies and procedures
Job Requirements
- PhD in Plant Biotechnology, Plant physiology, Horticulture and/or related fields.
- Minimum 5 years relevant experience in plant tissue culture systems and 8 relevant peer reviewed publications.
- Experience in plant tissue culture method development and validation.
- Demonstrable experience in designing and execution of biotech method development research.
- Knowledge and experience in genetic resources management is an added advantage.
- Evidence of substantial publications in ISI-rated scientific journals.
- Evidence of popular article publications will be an added advantage.
- Demonstrable experience in project management.
- Postgraduate student mentoring or supervision experience.
- Registration with a relevant scientific registration body, where applicable.
- Management skills including personnel and research project management.
- Good communication (verbal & writing) skills.
- Agricultural Research knowledge and skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
- Knowledge of intellectual property opportunities.
- Knowledge of work-place health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Valid driver’s license.
Enquiries: Prof M Bairu : Tel: (012) 808 800
Closing Date for Applications: 23 August 2024
