# Research Assistant - Breeding Data Management

**Company:** [International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA)](null/companies/93EUjS8e5iiKKSYoM8FPpG.md)
**Location:** Ibadan, Nigeria
**Workplace:** on site
**Department:** NRS

[Apply for this job](null/view/7ade2bc7-c0d5-446f-996e-d962408f8b4a)

## Description

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable Nigeria nationals for the positions below at the Institute’s Headquarters in Ibadan.

**Position:        Research Assistant - Breeding Data Management**

**Contract:**       3-years renewable contract                                            

**Location: Ibadan**

**Closing Date: 2 October 2026**

**DUTIES**

·       Support the Breeding Data Manager in the adoption, implementation, and routine use of the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) for storing, managing, retrieving, and reporting breeding information.

·       Assist breeding teams with electronic data capture, including the preparation, testing, and validation of digital field books and data-collection templates.

·       Curate essential breeding data, including locations, traits, germplasm records, pedigrees, experimental metadata, and germplasm attributes, before loading them into EBS.

·       Use R scripts or other reproducible tools for data cleaning, validation, duplicate identification, germplasm matching, site curation, data transformation, and routine reporting across breeding datasets.

·       Execute database queries and extract data into approved templates, reports, dashboards, and other formats based on clearly defined requirements.

·       Update and maintain Power BI dashboards for monitoring breeding activities, data quality, phenotypic-data completeness, germplasm information, experimental metadata, training activities, and other agreed performance indicators.

·       Apply institutional and international research data management standards and best practices, including crop ontologies, trait dictionaries, standard phenotyping protocols, data-quality rules, controlled vocabularies, templates, and digital field books.

·       Maintain appropriate documentation of data-curation activities, data uploads, analytical scripts, database queries, dashboard updates, quality-control results, user-support requests, and completed assignments.

·       Prepare periodic updates on completed activities, data-quality findings, analytical outputs, dashboard status, user-support needs, system-related challenges, and recommended follow-up actions.

·       Perform any other job-related duties that may be assigned by the Supervisor.

## Requirements

**QUALIFICATION**

Bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Agricultural Science, Plant Breeding, Bioinformatics, Information Technology, or a related discipline with a minimum of two (2) years’ of relevant experience in data management, database support, agricultural research, breeding-data management, or a related field will be an added advantage.

**COMPETENCIES**

The ideal candidate must have:

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data validation, lookups, and data-cleaning functions.

·       Working knowledge of R or Python for data cleaning, transformation, duplicate identification, descriptive statistics, visualization, and reproducible reporting.

·       Ability to develop, update, and maintain Power BI dashboards, including data preparation, data modeling, visualization, filtering, and routine refreshes.

·       Working knowledge of SQL and the ability to query relational databases, extract required information, and populate approved reporting templates.

·       Ability to perform basic descriptive and exploratory analyses, including frequencies, means, ranges, measures of variability, missing-data assessments, and comparisons across trials, locations, seasons, and breeding pipelines.

·       Familiarity with electronic data-collection tools, digital field books, standardized templates, trait dictionaries, crop ontologies, and phenotyping protocols.

·       Familiarity with the Enterprise Breeding System, BreedBase, BrAPI-enabled applications, or other breeding data-management platforms would be an advantage.

·       Ability to document scripts, data-processing procedures, quality-control checks, dashboard indicators, and user-support activities.

## Benefits

**REMUNERATION**

We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.

**METHOD OF APPLICATION**

Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed cover letter and curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format to IITA website: [https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs](https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs) no later than Two Weeks from the date of this publication.

_**IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.**_