Consultant

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in India.

📋 Description

• Review and arrange breeding trial datasets from various crops, locations, collaborators, and seasons.

• Perform data quality assessments related to trial design, traits, missing values, outliers, plot-level inconsistencies, genotype naming, location metadata, and treatment information.

• Cleanse and prepare datasets for statistical evaluation in accordance with CIMMYT workflows.

• Execute single-site, across-location, and adjusted means or BLUP statistical analyses when applicable.

• Produce outputs for product development, breeder evaluations, reporting, and decision-making processes.

• Document analytical procedures, scripts, assumptions, and results to ensure reproducibility and facilitate handover.

• Assist in the harmonization of analytical outputs across various crops and projects.

• Engage in technical check-ins with CIMMYT-DCP personnel.

• Provide data inventories, quality control reports, cleaned analysis-ready datasets, trial-level and multi-location analysis outputs, breeder-ready Excel/CSV files, reproducible R/Python scripts, monthly progress summaries, and a final consultancy report.

• Uphold the confidentiality of CIMMYT and partner data.

• Adhere to CIMMYT-DCP data management standards, which include structured folder organization, version control, documentation, and FAIR-compliant data handling.

⛳️ Requirements

• PhD in quantitative genetics, biometrics, statistics, or a related discipline.

• A minimum of 5–6 years of pertinent experience in plant breeding data analysis, quantitative genetics, or biometrics.

• Proven experience in analyzing multi-location crop breeding trials, selection indices, and creating templates for advancement decisions.

• Strong foundational knowledge of alpha lattice, randomized complete block design, augmented design, and multi-environment trials.

• Proficient in R and/or Python for data cleaning, statistical analysis, automation, and reproducible reporting.

• Experience with mixed models, BLUPs/BLUEs, genotype-by-environment analysis, trait summaries, and breeder-oriented reporting.

• Experience with CGIAR, NARES, seed systems, or international agricultural research initiatives is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with breeding data systems, BioFlow, FAIR data principles, and organized data management practices is a plus.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Capability to work independently, meet deadlines, and produce high-quality outputs with minimal supervision.

• Applicants must possess the legal right to work in India at the time of application.

• A CV with contact information for three professional references and a cover letter is required.

🏝️ Benefits

• Initial consultancy period of three months.

• Estimated workload of up to 20 working days per month.

• Equal opportunity employer.

• A multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

• Women are encouraged to apply.