Senior Research Fellow - Agronomy
ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic and motivated Indian Nationals for the position of Senior Research Fellow โ Agronomy to support field implementation, modelling, and validation for the Monsoon Mission-III project. The position will play a central role in integrating field observations, crop-weather models, and location-specific data to co-create dynamic crop calendars, scenario-based advisories, and decision-support content. The role also includes metadata curation, spatial data analysis, and input to AI-based advisory engines. This role is critical to advancing the organizationโs mission of improving agricultural productivity and sustainability in semi-arid regions across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa through advanced remote sensing applications in agriculture. The position is based in Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana.
ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.
ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit - www.icrisat.org
Responsibilities:
Lead the development of block-level dynamic crop calendars, incorporating weather forecasts, soil parameters, and contingency options.
Support seasonal and in-season advisory planning, including integration of forecasts and management recommendations.
Collect, standardize, and annotate metadata from field partners, research stations, and secondary datasets for advisory systems.
Contribute to crop modelling exercises using DSSAT and APSIM to simulate yield scenarios, planting windows, and input optimization strategies; familiarity with InVest model is an advantage.
Analyse โwhat-ifโ scenarios to inform climate risk management and develop recommendations under varying seasonal conditions.
Perform basic GIS and spatial data analysis to support zoning, agro-ecological targeting, and location-specific advisories.
Coordinate field activities for validation of advisory tools, including phenological observations, ground-truthing, and data logging.
Assist in training programs, farmer workshops, and extension sessions with KVKs, AMFUs, and local partners.
Collaborate with AI/ML teams to align ground data with decision tree logic and digital advisory systems
ย Essential Qualifications:
ย Masterโs degree in Agronomy, Agrometeorology or Soil and Water Engineering
A minimum 2 years of experience in climate-smart agriculture, field research and cropping systems modelling
Experience working on crop simulations, ground truthing, agro-climatic characterization, or contingency crop planning.
Hands-on skills in crop modelling (DSSAT, APSIM) and understanding of modelling inputs/outputs for field applications.
Proficiency in tools like Excel, R, or Python for basic analysis, and familiarity with metadata standardization.
Good communication and coordination skills with ability to work across research and extension teams.
ย Desirable Qualifications:
Experience in developing weather-based seasonal and in-season crop calendars.
Exposure to contingency planning at the district/block level based on forecast indicators.
Working knowledge of GIS, QGIS, or other spatial mapping platforms for agromet zoning and visualization.
Understanding of metadata creation, data harmonization, and input-output alignment for modelling workflows.
Familiarity with InQuest, climate data handling, and simulation of yield outcomes under variable weather conditions.
Demonstrated ability to link field realities with digital decision-support tools
General:
This is a contractual role for a period of 36 months (3 years).
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How to apply:
The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Shortlisting will start from 5 August 2025.ย All Applicants should apply with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining a progressive and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether they have a disability.