International Crops Research Institute for SemiArid Tropics ICRISAT

About International Crops Research Institute for SemiArid Tropics ICRISAT

What is ICRISAT? The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a non-profit, apolitical, international organization for science-based agricultural development. Established in 1972, it is a Future Harvest center of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), it is one of 16 centers, and is supported by more than 50 governments, foundations, and development banks. ICRISAT has approximately 1200 staff, and an annual budget of about US$ 24 million.

ICRISAT Research Programs

Genetic Resources and Enhancement Program (GREP)

Natural Resource Management Program (NRMP)

Socioeconomics and Policy Program (SEPP)

ICRISAT's Strategy for Learning

ICRISAT believes in focusing on what it does best: partnership-based research for development. Its capacity-building strategy emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach, in which collaborating scientists and ICRISAT staff jointly work through the real-life problems of research planning, fund raising, project execution and monitoring, information exchange, and impact assessment. Through this process, partners absorb the whole range of technical and management skills required to sustain a research-for-development thrust for the long term.

Within that framework, ICRISAT offers three types of learning opportunities:

Scholarly studies

Research Scholars are candidates for MSc, PhD, or equivalent degrees, carrying out their thesis research at an ICRISAT location while completing their course work at a recognized university, either in a developing or developed country. In the spirit of learn-by-doing, the thesis work must be congruent with a priority area of the shared ICRISAT-NARS research agenda, involving the Scholar in an active research thrust. Typical disciplinary areas within the agenda include: genetic resources management, genetics, plant breeding, cytogenetics, biotechnology, physiology, agronomy, land and water management, soil science, modelling, agroclimatology, entomology, pathology, virology, socio-economics, and statistics.

Joint project attachments

This track is not degree-oriented but provides a practical yet leading-edge opportunity for partners to learn-by-doing while contributing to the shared ICRISAT/NARS research project agenda. This opportunity is also provided for research support and administrative functions, because these are also important to the overall institutional capacity-building. ICRISAT welcomes applications for these attachments from national scientists (Research Fellows) as well as from students carrying out their student project work (Apprentices).

The joint research project agenda is described in detail in each year's revised medium-term plan, available on the internet or by writing to ICRISAT.

The length of the joint project attachment is variable depending on the task and objectives of the participant. Interested partners are invited to contact the respective Project Coordinator for the area of interest to explore opportunities. Names of Coordinators can be provided either by contacting ICRISAT directly, or by checking our internet website: http://www.icrisat.org.

Specialized skill courses

Courses on new cutting-edge technologies, research methodologies, or other emerging topics are held from time to time as ICRISAT acquires the relevant expertise. By gaining these skills, national partners are better able to contribute at the front lines of the shared research-for-development agenda. Announcements of these courses will be sent to national institutions well in advance, allowing them ample time to seek support for their participation.

Patancheru
Patancheru
Andhra Pradesh
502 324

Tel: +91 40 30713071
Fax: +91 40 30713074/30713075296182
[email protected]