IRRI Announcement: Rice Breeding Innovations Platform Organizational Changes

Continuing improvements for efficiency is the cornerstone of any working unit from individuals to organizations. To ensure that the Rice Breeding Innovations (RBI) platform of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) delivers on its mandates on a timely manner and reaches higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness in resource mobilization and research quality—especially for a strong position as we transition into One CGIAR—the following organizational changes are being made with immediate effect:

• Dr. Sankalp Bhosale takes on an expanded role and wider responsibilities as Deputy Platform Leader of the RBI platform. In addition to his existing direct responsibilities for breeding pipelines, seed system and product management, and regional breeding activities, the following scientists will be transferring into the Product Development and Variety Replacement (PDVR) research unit, reporting to Dr. Bhosale:

  • Dr. Sanjay Katiyar, NARES Breeding Program Modernization Lead

  • Dr. Roberto Fritsche-Neto, Breeding Analytics Lead (Quantitative Geneticist and Statistician)

  • Dr. Shoba Venkatangappa, Elite Germplasm Dissemination and Evaluation Networks Lead

  Dr. Bhosale will continue leading the PDVR research unit reporting to Dr. Hans Bhardwaj, IRRI RBI Platform Leader.

• Dr. Ajay Panchbhai is appointed as the Regional Breeding Lead for East and Southern Africa (ESA). Dr. Panchbhai will continue leading the ESA Seed System and Product Management team. In addition, the following rice breeding researchers will report to him:

  • Dr. Rosemary Murori, Rice Breeding Lead for Kenya and Tanzania

  • Dr. Alexis Ndayiragije, Rice Breeding Lead for Mozambique and Burundi

  • Dr. Joseph Bigirimana, ESA Plant Pathologist

  Dr. Panchbhai will report to Dr. Bhosale while working closely with Dr. Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI Regional Representative for Africa.

“Please join us in congratulating Sankalp Bhosale and Ajay Panchbhai for assuming expanded roles in the platform and wish Shoba, Sanjay, and Roberto the best as they transition to the PDRV research unit,” Dr. Bhardwaj and IRRI Research Director Dr. Ajay Kohli said.

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