The Breeding Insight Phenomics Coordinator will lead use-case development and specification to integrate breeding team phenotypic data collection with a software engineering team as a part of a national initiative to extend the application of genotypic information to routine development of specialty crops and animals. Breeding of specialty crops and animals has lagged behind the major crops and livestock, but these specialty species together have equal economic value to the major crops and provide lots of nutrition and flavor to diets.  One of the avenues for improving this situation is to accelerate breeding efforts by integrating the use of phenomics (trait analysis) with genomics and natural variation to increase the rate of genetic gain and create novel healthy, nutritious, and sustainable specialty crops and animals.

The Coordinator:

·         Coordinates with breeders at 5 breeding locations across the US (South Carolina, Oregon, West Virginia, New York, and Minnesota) to understand their breeding objectives, phenotyping needs, and manage project deliverables.

·         Work with PIs and breeders at USDA centers and universities to develop genomic breeding strategies, specify use-cases that clearly spell out the computational and interface requirements of the breeders, and form project plans to develop key capabilities and integrate Breeding Insight into the breeding programs.

·         Overall, combines these communications into a regular process coordinated with the development cycle implemented by the software team to ensure a well-defined roadmap of new methods and features.

·         In communication with breeders, designs and helps execute evaluation experiments and analyses of features introduced to the Breeding Insight on which follow-up requirement documents are based.

The Ithaca-based Phenomics Coordinator will be a highly visible person central to the success of Breeding Insight and report to the Breeding Insight project director and lead coordinator. The Breeding Insight project integrates a team of breeders (based at research locations across the US) with a software development team (based in Ithaca).

This position is a two-year term appointment with the possibility of extension contingent upon continued funding. 

Qualifications and Education Requirements

The coordinator will be recruited based on core competency in several different areas, including high throughput phenotyping, bioinformatics, quantitative genetics, and applied plant breeding. Above all, the coordinator must have demonstrated exceptional communication skills. A PhD in field robotics, breeding, physiology, biological informatics, quantitative genetics or related field and three years’ postdoctoral or equivalent post PhD experience is required. Experience with multiple crops or animals, and experience working with diverse teams are preferred. Knowledge of the use of information technology in breeding data collections methods are beneficial.

This position is a two-year term appointment with the possibility of extension contingent upon continued funding and successful performance.