POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

About the position

Within the Food Environment and Consumer Behavior research program, the Post-doctoral Fellow will support the Africa team with trans disciplinary project/research design, implementation and coordination. The position will support research within OneCGIAR initiatives as well as bilateral grants evolving around food environments, consumer behavior and healthy diets; including supporting the nutrition/healthy diets component in projects led by other research groups within the Alliance/OneCG (e.g. forest genetic resources and land restoration).

Responsibilities

In collaboration with partners and colleagues, perform and lead high quality research to guide programs and policies.

Document and review knowledge on food environments, food systems and healthy diets in different ecologies, including rural as well as urban settings.

Design and develop quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments, protocols, and applications for ethical review boards; train and supervise enumerators for accurate data collection.

Study barriers and opportunities for improving food environments/systems and diets through community-based, participatory action research, including the role of trees and landscape restoration in shaping sustainable food systems.

Identify entry points for sustainable food systems transformations through various stakeholder processes.

Contribute to the development of innovative data analysis methods across teams and disciplines; participate and contribute to relevant discussions and team meetings, engaging with subject-area specialists, and other relevant parties in order to strengthen scientific research.

Contribute to the fulfillment, in a timely and accurate fashion, of the various project reporting requirements.

Mentor and supervise consultants and students to publish findings and ensure timely completion of tasks.

Contribute to the implementation of a research portfolio including technical, financial and operational aspects in several countries.

Contribute to publishing research results for different audiences: international peer-reviewed journals with impact factor, policy briefs, fact sheets, info notes, blogs.

Contribute to the development of new project proposals and concept notes for the generation of funding to support the research agenda.

Liaise with other in-house programs, global and national research, development, policy, donor and other partners to maintain and develop a network of supportive stakeholders.

Develop and support partnerships with universities and others

Contribute to other organizational and programmatic activities as and when required.

Requirements

PhD (or MSc with minimum 5 years post-MSc experience) in agricultural sciences and/or nutrition, with strong knowledge and interest in the other discipline; expertise in the area of development and capacity building; strong ability to think across different disciplines.

Previous experience in an international working environment is desired.

Experience in data collection, data analysis (SPSS, STATA, or R).

Experience living in a rural community in a developing country is a plus.

Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written including the ability to organize and write clear and concise reports;

Excellent analytical and synthesizing skills; ability to think and write clearly and concisely on scientific documents and research proposals.

Significant experience implementing research projects around food systems for healthy diets.

Track record of publications in international peer-reviewed journals with impact factor.

Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of independence within assigned areas, complemented by sound judgment and initiative, flexibility and adaptability

Ability to interpret and present analytical results and write reports.

Excellent team player, self-motivated and independent problem solver.

Ability to travel for extended periods in the implementation of the work.