Scientist-Innovation Systems

Icrisat; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

ICRISAT seeks applications for a Scientist – Innovation Systems to lead climate-smart, AI-enabled and data-driven agricultural innovations. The role focuses on designing, testing, validating, and scaling AI-powered advisory platforms and climate information services for smallholder farmers and governments.

The incumbent will work across CGIAR programs, develop partnerships, and contribute to capacity strengthening, policy engagement and resource mobilization. Based in New Delhi, India.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Innovations Systems or related field with climate change impact focus.
• 4+ years in Digital Agriculture solutions and climate action; experience in climate information services.
• Experience with AI-enabled decision-support approaches and knowledge graphs.
• Excellence in English (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in R or Python for large data analyses and climate model outputs.
• Familiarity with agro-advisory systems, data harmonization and semantic data integration.
• Experience with climate, crop, hydrological models (e.g., DSSAT, APSIM).

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation systems research for climate-smart, digital and AI-enabled agricultural innovations.
• Design and scale AI-powered agro-advisory platforms and climate intelligence systems.
• Develop AI-enabled ICT tools, digital platforms, data collection and monitoring systems.
• Develop AI-enabled agricultural knowledge systems including knowledge graphs and intelligent layers.
• Apply analytics and modelling for climate information services and decision-making.
• Identify, validate and scale emerging agricultural technologies and field innovations.
• Promote responsible, inclusive and ethical use of AI and data in agriculture.
• Co-design and validate innovations with farmers, extension services and partners.
• Build partnerships with national/international institutions and stakeholders.
• Lead bilateral projects and CGIAR programs, including fundraising and reporting.

Skills

Climate information systems

AI-enabled advisory

Geospatial analysis

Machine learning

Data science

Retrieval-augmented systems

Knowledge graphs

Policy engagement

Education

Ph.D. in Innovations Systems or related

Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering or Climate information systems

Tools

R

Python

GIS software

High-performance computing

DSSAT

APSIM

AQUACROP

SWAT

Job description

About ICRISAT

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organisation that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and Africa, working with partners around the world. Drylands cover about 45% of the world's land, are home to 2.3 billion people (one in three) and support 45-50% of the world's livestock. ICRISAT's vision is a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. ICRISAT is headquartered in Patancheru, Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in Africa. Visit www.icrisat.org for more information.

Role Purpose

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic, interdisciplinary and impact-driven professionals for the position of Scientist – Innovation Systems in the Global Research Program Transforming Agrifood System. The position will focus on innovating and leading activities related to climate-smart, digital, AI-enabled, data-driven and emerging agricultural innovations for resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems. The role will contribute to the design, development, testing, validation, scaling and institutionalization of agricultural innovation systems that translate science, data, climate intelligence, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and field-based innovations into practical solutions for smallholder farmers, extension systems, governments and development partners. The Scientist will support ICRISAT's work on AI-powered agro-advisory platforms, and National level climate intelligence systems, AI-enabled ICT tools, climate information services, digital and data-driven decision-support systems, AI-powered data collection and monitoring tools, agricultural knowledge graphs, intelligent advisory layers, domain-specific knowledge corpora, geospatial and climate analytics, responsible AI, inclusive innovations and climate-smart agricultural technologies. The position will work across bilateral projects, CGIAR Science Programs and strategic initiatives, contributing to research leadership, technology development, field implementation, partnerships, policy engagement, capacity strengthening, proposal development and resource mobilization. The incumbent will be based in New Delhi.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead innovation systems research and implementation related to climate-smart, digital, AI-enabled, data-driven and emerging agricultural innovations for resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.
• Lead the design, development, testing and scaling of AI-powered agro-advisory platforms, including the Climate Intelligent Systems to support climate-informed decision-making, localized advisory generation, dissemination, farmer engagement and feedback-based improvement.
• Develop and operationalize AI-enabled ICT tools, digital platforms, data collection systems, monitoring and evaluation tools, digital knowledge services and decision-support systems for field implementation, real-time evidence generation, adaptive project management and last-mile delivery.
• Develop and strengthen AI-enabled agricultural knowledge systems, including knowledge graphs, structured advisory repositories, crop-stage decision rules, climate-risk intelligence layers, domain-specific knowledge corpora, retrieval-augmented systems and intelligent decision layers.
• Apply climate analytics, crop modelling, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, machine learning, data science and systems modelling approaches to support climate information services, contingency planning, early warning, preparedness and climate-resilient agricultural decision-making.
• Support the identification, validation and scaling of emerging agricultural technologies, climate-smart practices, field innovations and systems-based solutions that enhance productivity, resilience, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and smallholder impact.
• Advance responsible, inclusive and ethical use of AI, data, digital tools and emerging agricultural innovations, with attention to transparency, explainability, accountability, data quality, human oversight, privacy, data governance, farmer-centric design, gender equity and youth inclusion.
• Co-design, test and validate agricultural innovations with farmers, women, youth, extension agencies, government departments, CGIAR Centers, national research institutions, universities, private sector actors, NGOs and other stakeholders, and develop frameworks to assess adoption, usability, trust, scalability, inclusiveness, sustainability and impact.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with national and international research institutions, government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, innovation ecosystem partners and CGIAR programs; convene stakeholder dialogues, technical workshops, policy consultations, learning events and capacity-strengthening initiatives.
• Lead and support the delivery of bilateral projects, CGIAR Science Programs and other strategic initiatives related to climate-smart agriculture, AI-enabled advisory systems, digital transformation, digital climate services, inclusive innovation and resilient agrifood systems, including project planning, budgeting, implementation, reporting, quality assurance, publications, policy briefs, donor reports, proposal development, fundraising and resource mobilization.

Essential Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Innovations Systems, Agricultural Engineering, Climate information Systems, Soil and Water Engineering or a related discipline with a focus on climate change impacts on crop productivity.
• The candidate should have experience in Digital Transformation, climate information and advisory services, and agricultural systems research;At least 4+ years' relevant experience in the development and implementation of Digital Agriculture solutions, Systems Analysis and Climate action particularly in the context of climate services.
• Ability to use climate model runs on high-performance computers and analyze the results in comparison with observations;4+ years' experience in the parameterization, validation and application of crop/climate models to understand temporal and spatial dynamics and change;
• Working knowledge or experience in AI-enabled decision-support approaches, including knowledge graphs, rule-based advisory logic, retrieval-augmented systems, neuro-symbolic AI and domain-informed decision intelligence for agriculture.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis methods, GIS and spatial analysis skills; Excellence in English (both spoken and written).
• Intermediate level of R or Python programming language as well as large data analysis tools are preferable to analyze and automate climate and crop model outputs;
• Experience in agro-advisory systems, crop information systems, agricultural data harmonization and standardization, ontology development, knowledge representation, semantic data integration and decision-support tool development.
• Experience of working with climate, crop, hydrological models (DSSAT, APSIM, AQUACROP, SWAT); Experience in working with a wide range of national and international stakeholders and interest to work in interdisciplinary team;Understanding of African and South Asian smallholder farming systems and their constraints and opportunities for sustainable intensification;
• Good understanding of CGIAR program planning, reporting and management systems, with experience or working knowledge of reporting requirements, deliverables, outputs, outcomes, MEL processes and portfolio coordination, particularly in relation to Climate Action, Digital Transformation and related CGIAR Science Programs.
• Demonstrated ability to write proposals and technical reportsPrevious experience in working with international climate related institutes, CGIAR centers;

Terms of Appointment

This is a contractual role for 36 months (03 year). It may be renewed based on performance and the Institute's continuing need for the position.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining a progressive and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether they have a disability.