Associate Scientist-Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition

ICRISAT invites applications from motivated Indian nationals for the position of Associate Scientist – Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition at The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The role involves leading the design, implementation, and scientific delivery of post-harvest research and development across regional projects focused on priority vegetables. This position supports ICRISAT’s mission to empower dryland communities in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa by improving agricultural production systems and reducing poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Technology Development: Lead applied research on post-harvest handling, cold chain management, storage, packaging, minimal processing, and value addition for vegetables such as tomato, onion, chili, okra, cucurbits, and indigenous varieties. Conduct loss assessments along vegetable value chains to identify critical loss points and intervention options. Adapt and validate low-cost, scalable technologies suitable for smallholder farmers, including solar cooling and modified atmosphere packaging. Address food safety and quality issues, including pesticide residues and microbial contamination, in coordination with WorldVeg teams. Develop processing technologies to enhance shelf life and market opportunities, while evaluating environmental sustainability and climate resilience of post-harvest practices. Manage on-station and on-farm trials with rigorous data collection and analysis. Contribute to decision-support tools and standard operating procedures for post-harvest management.

Project Implementation and Management: Act as technical lead for post-harvest components of WorldVeg projects funded by government and private partners. Prepare annual work plans, budgets, and procurement schedules, ensuring timely delivery of project outputs. Supervise and mentor project staff and consultants, maintaining quality field implementation and data integrity. Prepare technical and donor reports in compliance with organizational policies on ethics, confidentiality, and financial management.

Capacity Development and Scaling: Develop and deliver training programs, demonstrations, and extension materials for farmers, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), women’s groups, traders, processors, and government extension staff. Establish demonstration units and pilot aggregation facilities to showcase best practices and generate evidence on costs and returns. Support business model development and market linkages that reward quality produce. Contribute technology packages and investment scenarios to WorldVeg’s knowledge resources.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization: Build and maintain relationships with state horticulture departments, agricultural universities, ICAR institutes, NABARD, APEDA, NHB, MIDH, and private-sector stakeholders. Identify funding opportunities and assist in proposal development in coordination with the Regional Director and proposal teams. Represent WorldVeg in technical meetings, policy dialogues, and conferences related to post-harvest management.

Scientific Communication and Knowledge Management: Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific forums. Prepare policy briefs, technical bulletins, training manuals, and digital content for diverse audiences. Share data and protocols within WorldVeg’s global research programs, ensuring compliance with data management and open-access policies.

Other Duties: Support broader research, monitoring and evaluation, gender and social inclusion initiatives, and communications as required. Perform additional duties assigned by management aligned with the role.

Required Qualifications

Technical: PhD in Post-Harvest Technology, Horticulture, Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Process Engineering, or a closely related discipline, with 3-4 years of post-doctoral experience in post-harvest research or development, preferably on horticultural crops in India or South Asia. Proven experience in designing and managing field-based research projects, including budgeting and donor reporting. Strong publication record and technical writing skills. In-depth knowledge of post-harvest physiology, handling systems, cold chain, packaging, storage technologies, food safety, and quality management in vegetable value chains. Experience working with smallholder farmers, FPOs, extension systems, and market actors in India. Excellent command of written and spoken English with the ability to communicate technical content to non-specialists.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

Experience with value-chain analysis, business model development, and market linkage approaches is desirable. Familiarity with Indian government schemes and institutions relevant to horticulture post-harvest infrastructure (e.g., MIDH, RKVY, NHB, APEDA, PMFME) is an advantage. Prior success in preparing proposals for government, multilateral donors, or CSR funding is preferred. Working knowledge of Hindi and regional languages is beneficial. Experience in gender-responsive and nutrition-sensitive agricultural research, as well as competence in statistical analysis and data visualization software (e.g., R, SAS, SPSS), is valued.

This is a contractual position for 36 months, renewable based on performance and organizational needs. ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and a progressive workplace environment. Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.