Applied Agriculture Chemist

The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) is a unique and innovative English language undergraduate institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders of Rwanda and East Africa. Students at RICA will engage in curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities emphasizing Conservation Agriculture and One Health principles, oral and written communication, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

In an experiential learning environment, students will develop the knowledge and experience necessary for a wide range of careers in agriculture. Students at RICA will experience the six Enterprises including Food Processing, Dairy, Poultry and Swine, Row and Forage Crops, Vegetable and Fruit Crops, Irrigation, and Mechanization. Communication, One Health Systems Thinking, and Entrepreneurship are woven throughout the curriculum. All RICA graduates will be innovative problem solvers able to operate farms and ranches, start agribusinesses, assume management roles in cooperatives, NGOs, and other agricultural enterprises, serve their communities as extension agents and technical and policy experts or assume positions of agricultural leadership in Rwanda.

DESCRIPTION

We are seeking an Applied Agricultural Chemist to join a world‐class team of educators and researchers at RICA. This is a part-time position, with potential to become full-time. Ideal candidates will have a passion for education with a focus on conservation agriculture and systems thinking and will actively engage with students in the learning environment by demonstrating technical skills and mentoring students. Such a candidate will commit to the RICA teaching philosophy, which celebrates experiential learning that is founded in research and extends to the community. This position is a comprehensive teaching position whereby the successful candidate is a stakeholder in all aspects of the program, including but not limited to, the responsibilities listed below.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach courses in Applied Agricultural Chemistry.
• Participate in team taught experiential classes.
• As part of a team, advise and mentor students on capstone experiences.
• Champion Conservation Agriculture and One Health principles in teaching and mentoring students.
• Interact with the community through extension providing solutions to agricultural questions as appropriate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluent speaker of English
• MS or PhD in Chemistry, Soil Science, Agronomy, Weed Science, or other relevant degrees.
• Teaching experience
• Enthusiasm for conservation agriculture, experiential learning, and team teaching

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience teaching agriculture students
• Experience in active and experiential learning and team teaching
• Experience in chemistry applications to agriculture, such as soil chemistry, product chemistry, herbicide application, post-harvest product processing, food processing.
• Demonstrated success in research and/or extension (e.g. presentations, publications, awards)
• Demonstrated capacity to work with multidisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated relevant management and leadership experience
• PhD preferred

BENEFITS OF JOINING THE RICA TEAM

Academic staff at RICA will be part of creating something unique in the world. While working with other world‐class educators and researchers, you will transform agriculture in Rwanda and East Africa for a conservation‐minded and food‐secure future. RICA staff will also enjoy an internationally competitive salary commiserate with the applicant’s background, a relocation allowance, on‐campus staff housing, and an on‐campus meal plan.