Project Associate I-National Project Workforce

Key skills

Plant Pathology

Microbiome

Root exudates

biocontrol

Additional/Preferred Skills

LC-MS

Genomics

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Plant Pathology / Microbiolog

Agricultural Microbiology

Life Sciences

Project Associate - I

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic and motivated Indian Nationals for the position of Project Associate – I under the category of National Project Workforce (NPW).  The incumbent will support the planning and implementation of both field-based and controlled environment experiments focused on soil-borne diseases affecting legume crops. 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:

• Assist in planning and executing field and controlled environment experiments on legume soil-borne diseases

• Collection of rhizosphere soil and root samples; perform root exudate purification and processing under sterile conditions

• Conduct in vitro bioassays to evaluate inhibitory effects of root exudates on key soil-borne pathogens

• Prepare samples and assist in LC-MS data handling for metabolomic profiling of root exudates and rhizosphere soils

• Support DNA extraction from soil samples; assist in sequencing and microbial diversity analysis and identification of potential functional microorganisms

• Support functional screening of beneficial microbes and linking root exudate and microbiome traits to select pigeonpea and chickpea varieties for breeding under different conditions

• Maintain detailed records of experiments, support data compilation for reports and publications

• Ensure compliance with biosafety, environmental, and health & safety protocols in labs, greenhouses, and field sites

• Assist in host-pathogen interaction studies, epidemiological surveys, biocontrol research, and capacity-building activities

• Perform additional research duties as assigned by the supervisor

Essential Criteria:

• Master’s degree in Plant Pathology / Microbiology / Agricultural Microbiology / Life ScienceBiotechnology / Life Sciences or related fields is preferred

• Prior experience in plant-microbe interactions, soil microbiome or root exudate analysis

• Hands-on experience in soil and root sampling, microbial culturing, and conducting in vitro bioassays

• Familiarity with LC-MS sample preparation, metabolomics, or analytical chemistry techniques Knowledge of DNA extraction, sequencing, and basic understanding of bioinformatics tools for microbial community

• Experience working in field conditions, greenhouse environments, and adherence to lab safety protocols

• Proficiency in data organization, record-keeping, and effective team collaboration

• Strong communication, organizational, and documentation skills

• NET qualification is preferred

General:

This is a contractual role for a period of 36 months (3 years).

How to apply:

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Shortlisting will start from 10 September 2025. 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.