Research Officer—Farm Structures and Storage Engineer 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

The farm structures and storage engineer will conduct research to develop new farm structures and storage technologies, systems and methods; and generate information that supports 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

Applicants should hold an Honor’s Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering or BSc Biosystems Engineering plus a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering

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

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

Other Details

Age limit: Not more than 50yrs

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

• Conduct research studies on technological, ergonomic and socio-economic aspects of farm production tools, implements and machinery
• Design, specify materials and produce working drawings and blue prints to aid in IP applications, fabrication of farm production tools, implements and machinery.
• Guide the fabrication of the designed prototypes of farm production tools, implements and machinery in conformity with acceptable quality standards and social factors
• Plan and conduct experiments for evaluating the designed and fabricated prototypes of farm production tools, implements and machinery
• Conduct data analysis, report writing, and produce research publications and dissemination materials
• Develop annual research activities, budgets and workplans in the area of farm tools, implements and machinery
• 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, extension workers, etc) in different aspects of farm tools, implements and machinery.
• Disseminate proven farm tools, implements and machinery to uptake pathways for adoption and scaling up
• Prepare and submit technical and periodic reports in the research area of farm tools, implements and machinery
• 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.

• Honor’s Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering or BSc Biosystems Engineering plus a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering
• A PhD in the field of agricultural engineering is an added advantage