Consultant for Soil and Water Management

Job Posting Organization:
The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, which focuses on 'Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection'. Established to enhance the capacity of Member States in various sectors, including food and agriculture, human health, and environmental management, the organization operates laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco, and Vienna. The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture plays a crucial role in assisting Member States in utilizing nuclear techniques to improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and promote sustainable agriculture. The organization is dedicated to addressing basic human needs and managing environmental challenges through innovative nuclear and isotopic techniques.

Job Overview:
The consultant will collaborate with the Soil Water Management Group Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL) to prepare a comprehensive publication and training materials focused on stable carbon isotope techniques for monitoring drought stress and estimating water use efficiency in tropical perennial crops, including banana, cassava, and coffee. This role is vital in helping scientists tackle climate change resilience, drawing on guidelines from previous projects aimed at enhancing agricultural practices in Central Africa and East Africa. The consultant will also contribute to the development of a mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) spectral library using coffee leaf samples, which will aid in predicting stable carbon isotope ratios and nutritional parameters, thus facilitating rapid diagnostics of drought stress and nutritional status in crops. Additionally, the consultant will support the testing of a micro-sensing prototype that employs Tiny Machine Learning algorithms for real-time detection of physiological stress in coffee plants.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise in preparing an FAO publication (~70 pages) aimed at scientists, technicians, and decision-makers, detailing the use of stable carbon isotope techniques for monitoring drought stress and estimating water use efficiency in tropical perennial crops. This publication will include principles of the techniques, practical guidelines, data interpretation, and future developments.
• Create a set of teaching materials as an annex to the FAO publication, focusing on the principles of the techniques, practical setups for assessments, data interpretation, and future developments.
• Offer guidance to collaborating institutions involved in the PUI project on strategies for scaling up the use of developed isotope and conventional techniques for assessing drought stress and water use efficiency in tropical perennial crops.
• Conduct mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) analysis on coffee leaves to generate spectral data for calibrating predictive models of δ¹³C values and critical nutritional parameters.
• Provide input on the experimental validation of micro-sensors designed to detect water stress in coffee plants, supporting field trials, environmental data logging, and correlation analysis between sensor output and plant physiological indicators.

Required Qualifications:

• University Degree in Bioscience Engineering, Soil Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years' experience in one of the following areas: Expertise in Soil & Agronomy research with a focus on Tropical Agriculture; Expertise in Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) with an emphasis on Tropical Soils; Experience in experimental design and data analysis in soil and plant management; Experience in using stable isotope techniques for monitoring drought stress and estimating water use efficiency in tropical perennial crops such as banana, cassava, and coffee.
• Good knowledge of oral and written English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is an asset.

Educational Background:
A university degree in a relevant field such as Bioscience Engineering or Soil Science is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the objectives of the project.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in areas such as Soil & Agronomy research, Integrated Soil Fertility Management, experimental design, and data analysis related to soil and plant management. Experience with stable isotope techniques specifically for monitoring drought stress and estimating water use efficiency in tropical perennial crops is crucial for the successful execution of the responsibilities associated with this role.

Languages:
A good command of oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of other official IAEA languages such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish would be considered an asset, enhancing the consultant's ability to communicate effectively within the international context of the organization.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy offers a daily fee of up to a maximum of €230, depending on qualifications and experience. If travel is required for the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs will be provided. It is important to note that health coverage and pension fund responsibilities lie with the consultant.