Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, \"Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection\". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.
The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Centre consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food safety and control.
The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section and Laboratory assist Member States in developing improved soil and water management practices for sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems, the conservation of natural resources and the effective use of external inputs through applied and adaptive research and development activities, technology transfer and capacity building
Main Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialized, technical expertise for the quality-controlled
implementation of Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) technology within the \"Soil mapping for resilient agrifood
systems\" (SoiIFER) project. This project facilitates technical support and capacity building across Ghana, Guatemala,
Honduras, Kenya, and Zambia. The consultant will provide dedicated support for CRNS data processing, CRNS
applications in agricultural water management, and national capacity building, generating essential country-scale data
to inform national soil information and decision support systems.
The SoilFER project aims to enhance agricultural practices, resilience, and food security in participating countries. The
Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Agriculture provides key technical support, including guidance on
integrating Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIRS), Visible-Near Infrared Spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS), and CRNS technologies.
This work provides evidence-based management practices to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change and
improve long-term agricultural resilience as outlined in the agreed objectives with Member States.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Develop and implement procedures for CRNS data processing, application in agricultural water management,
and integration with other soil monitoring and mapping systems.
Prepare comprehensive training materials on CRNS data utilization and prediction services.
Deliver, in-country training sessions for national staff and local partners on CRNS data utilization
and prediction services. This includes facilitating quality technical translation of materials into local
languages.
Provide technical input at the request of stakeholders on project implementation across the five countries,
ensuring all CRNS technical execution aligns with project needs and quality standards.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition
Qualifications and Experience
University degree (bachelor) in agricultural or soil sciences, or a related discipline, with a background in nuclear techniques for soil moisture monitoring and mapping.
Minimum two years of experience in one of the following fields:
Proven experience with Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS)data processing for area-wide soil moisture
monitoring, supported by scientific publications.
Good skills in data analysis and modelling using 'R' or similar programming languages, evidenced by
publications.
Experience applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data analysis in soil or water monitoring would be an asset.
Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.
Remuneration
The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 150, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.