Research Officer – Farm Structures and Bio Systems Engineering job at National Agricultural Research Organisation

Background

The National Agricultural Research Organisation is established by the National Agricultural Research Act 2005 as a body corporate with the mandate to provide strategic direction for publicly funded agricultural research in Uganda. The organisation is composed of the Council as its governing body, Committees of Council, a Secretariat for its day-to-day operations with semi-autonomous Public Agricultural Research Institutes (PARI’s) under its policy guidance. The Director General invites suitably qualified Ugandans to apply for the following positions at PARIs and NARO Secretariat.

Job Purpose

To conduct research, develop new farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods; and generate information that support planning and monitoring of research and formulation of policies that contribute to post-harvest loss reduction; improved production and productivity; shelf life; and quality of crop and livestock commodity enterprises and enhance climate resilience for smallholder farmers.

Qualifications and Experience

A BSc in Agricultural Engineering or BSc Biosystems Engineering Plus an MSc in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering with a bias in rural agriculture structures or Biosystems Engineering from a recognized institution.

A PhD in the field of agricultural engineering is an added advantage

Three (3) years relevant experience gained from a busy research environment

Must be registered with the engineering professions body with a current license.

Tenure of Office

The tenure of office is a 5-year contract renewable upon satisfactory performance.

• Conduct technological, ergonomic and socio-economic studies in farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods
• Design, specific materials and produce working drawings and blue prints to aid in IP applications, fabrication of new farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods for different crops, animals, poultry and other categories of livestock
• Guiding the fabrication of the designed prototypes of new farm structures and storage technologies and systems in conformity with acceptable quality standards and social factors
• Plan and conduct experiments for evaluating the designed and fabricated prototypes of new farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods
• Enforce occupational health and safety in workshops and construction sites
• Conduct data analysis, report writing, and produce research publications and dissemination materials
• Develop annual research activities, budgets and work plans in the area of farm structures and storage technologies
• Develop project proposals to secure funding for research and development in line with the institute’s strategic plan and government development frameworks
• Train stakeholders (famers, fabricators, rural artisans, processors, extension workers, etc) in different aspects of new farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods.
• Disseminate proven farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods to uptake pathways for adoption and scaling up
• Prepare and submit technical and periodic reports in the research area of farm structures and storage technologies
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Director General NARO, or Director of Research NARL and or Program Leader/Officer In-charge of the agricultural engineering research centre.

• A BSc in Agricultural Engineering or BSc Biosystems Engineering Plus an MSc in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering with a bias in rural agriculture structures or Biosystems Engineering from a recognized institution.
• A PhD in the field of agricultural engineering is an added advantage
• Must be registered with the engineering professions body with a current license.