Description
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on behalf of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks suitable Nigeria nationals for the position below at the
Position: Senior Research Associate
Contract: 3-year renewable contract Location: Ibadan
Closing Date: 12 February 2026
DUTIES:
- Plan and implement feed and forage production trials, including crop-residue processing and the evaluation of improved feed ingredients in priority states.
- Assist with the preparation, processing, and laboratory analysis of feed, forage and fermentation-derived protein (FDP) samples (nutrient profiling, digestibility testing, and safety assessments).
- Contribute to the setup, management, and monitoring of animal, poultry, and fish feeding trials on-station and on-farm, ensuring accurate performance measurements and adherence to protocols.
- Conduct field data collection, sampling, and initial sample preparation for quality assessment, including forage variety trials and on-farm validations.
- Compile, clean, and manage field, laboratory, survey, and trial datasets; perform basic analysis and contribute to scientific reports, dashboards, and communication materials.
- Coordinate stakeholder engagements with farmers, private-sector actors (e.g., feed mills, integrators), universities/research institutes, and relevant regulatory authorities; support experience-sharing visits, technology demonstrations, and platform meetings.
- Support activities and deliverables across specific project components in Nigeria.
a) Drought-tolerant forage trials in Sahel states;
b) Scaling biotech solutions to convert crop residues to high-quality feed;
c) Economic and performance testing of FDP in poultry and fish;
d) Assessment of mycotoxin contamination and livestock exposure in feeds.
- Provide logistical, operational, and supervisory support; ensure proper use/maintenance of field, farm, and lab equipment; supervise technicians and casual workers as assigned.
- Prepare weekly/monthly summaries and quarterly progress reports; contribute to market studies, policy roundtables, and knowledge products.
- Perform any other job-related tasks as may be assigned by the Supervisor.
Requirements
QUALIFICATION:
MSc in Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Feed Science and Technology, Agricultural Biotechnology or any other related courses. The ideal candidate must have a minimum of four (4) years’ cognate experience performing a similar role in a well-structured environment.
COMPETENCIES:
The ideal candidate must:
- Demonstrate strong hands‑on expertise in field experimentation, sample collection, and laboratory techniques.
- Be capable of managing multiple tasks across farm operations, laboratory workflows, and varied field environments, with a readiness for frequent travel across Nigeria.
- Show proficiency in data entry, data cleaning, and the use of spreadsheet and statistical analysis tools.
- Exhibit excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to engage diverse stakeholders and support trainings, field demonstrations, and workshops.
- Maintain exceptional organizational skills, a high level of accuracy, and a commitment to robust recordkeeping and data quality.
- Bring sound strategic thinking and leadership capabilities to drive project goals.
- Have a solid understanding of national feed quality and safety standards as well as related procedures.
- Be able to work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team environment.
Benefits
REMUNERATION:
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
