postdoctoral fellow - agricultural and resource EconomicsInternational Rice Research Institute

About IRRI
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.
Job Purpose
The Agricultural and Resource Economist will be part of a transdisciplinary team of biophysical and social scientists operating under the new CGIAR Market Intelligence and Product Profiling Initiative (MIPPI) (2022-2024) and will focus on developing pipeline investment cases (WP4) based on (i) product market segments identified by WP1; (ii) gender-intentional product profiles developed under WP2 for each product market segment; (iii) information from the Advanced Breeding Initiative's (ABI) WP1 on the alignment of pipelines to product market segments and pipeline investment; and (iv) behavioral intelligence from WP3. The incumbent will estimate and describe the opportunity or potential impact in each product market segment and across the segments served by a pipeline and calculate metrics to determine the return on investment for each pipeline, developing recommendations for the prioritization of and level of investment in each pipeline. The incumbent will provide inputs into the development of the Investor Dashboard, i.e. a global online digital tool, co-developed with Digital Transformation and N4ETTSS Initiatives, to assist researcher leaders, and investors to visualize potential returns on investment across crops, product market segments, pipelines, and Impact Areas. The investment cases developed by the incumbent and the WP4 team will be published on the Investor Dashboard.
This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and is open for international applications.
Roles and Responsibilities
Conduct research through foresight modeling with the transdisciplinary team in WP1 to generate market intelligence across five Impact Areas: (i) nutrition, health and food security; (ii) poverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs; (iii) gender equality, youth and social inclusion; (iv) climate adaptation and mitigation; and (v) environmental health and biodiversity (20% time allocation)
Develop pipeline investment cases based on product market segments (WP1), gender-intentional product profiles (WP2), information on the alignment of pipelines to product market segments and pipeline investment (Advanced Breeding Initiative, WP1), and behavioral intelligence (WP3). This will entail conducting research on advanced investment and cost analysis of breeding pipelines to support prioritization of breeding investments based on potential impact and trade-offs between Impact Areas, and optimization of investments in breeding pipelines. The incumbent will also provide inputs into the development of the Investor Dashboard, i.e. a global online digital tool, co-developed with Digital Transformation and N4ETTSS Initiatives (50% time allocation)
Contribute to Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA), training and scaling activities with the team in WP5 (30% time allocation)
Coordinate closely with MIPPI's CGIAR, NARES and public and private sector partners to incorporate pipeline investment cases into research programs and projects
Coordinate closely with research decision makers and donors to support investment decision making through high-quality evidence
Contribute to research proposals and actively help securing funds and manage funds and support
Build and maintain partnerships with collaborators and stakeholders
Supervise, coach, and mentor scientific professionals and support staff including PhD students and other scientists
Supervise and mentor research assistant
Publish and actively contribute to articles in peer-reviewed journals
Develop databases of breeding pipeline investments and costs in CGIAR and NARES, impact by pipeline across the five CGIAR Impact Areas and investment scenarios
Disseminate pipeline investment cases through regular (semi-annual) pipeline prioritization and investment briefs
Contribute to the development of the Investor Dashboard
Represent MIPPI to a wide audience by presenting at international conferences and meetings
Qualifications
PhD preferably in Agricultural and Resource Economics
Skills Required
Mandatory
Ability to conduct high quality research in the area of modeling, impact assessment and benefit-cost analysis
Has a background in both, quantitative and qualitative research methods
Has demonstrated contribution to the delivery of strategies and plans of multiple projects
Has excellent research management experience
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
Preferred
Experience in rice research and research with global focus
IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances. Join our team and be part of our story!
Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.
International Rice Research Institute

Philippines
Permanent
Full-time