CGIAR (formerly known as The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is the largest global grouping of scientists working towards agricultural development across low and middle-income countries. CGIAR is comprised of the following 14 institutions:
- Africa Rice Center
- Alliance Bioversity and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
- International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
- International Potato Center (CIP)
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
- World Agroforestry Center (formerly ICRAF)
- World Fish
In addition to the technical science expertise, CGIAR focuses on a range of social science and/or cross-cutting topics including:
- Climate adaptation and mitigation
- Environmental health and biodiversity
- Nutrition, health and food security
- Poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs
- Gender equality, youth and social inclusion
Opportunities to collaborate with CGIAR
These centers touch upon all aspects of UTIA, and, as research centers, they particularly intersect with AgResearch and the College of Veterinary Medicine’s research portfolio. There are multiple opportunities for UTIA faculty to collaborate with these centers including:
- Hosting CGIAR visiting scholars and scientific exchange
- Sending UT post-docs and graduate students to gain valuable lab and field experience at CGIAR centers
- Writing collaborative grant proposals
- CGIAR centers as hosts for UT faculty development leave / Fulbright / other visiting faculty opportunities
- CGIAR scientists serving as adjunct faculty
CGIAR scientists and collaborators are eligible for consideration as adjunct faculty in UTK colleges and departments. As adjunct faculty, these scientists could serve UTK units in multiple ways, including but not limited to the following:
- Serving on UTK student graduate committees
- Collaborating on grant proposals
- Guest lecturing or co-teaching with UT faculty
The UTK faculty handbook provides overall guidance for the appointment of individuals external to the university to adjunct faculty roles. For full details, see section 4.1.6 on pages 54-55 in the 2024 version of the handbook. Some excerpts for guidance include:
- Adjunct faculty can include “individuals external to the university who have special expertise useful for the accomplishment of the unit’s mission. Because an adjunct appointment is necessarily part-time, adjunct faculty do not participate in faculty governance in the unit in which the appointment is held.”
- “Appointees should hold the terminal degree in the field and/or have equivalent capabilities by virtue of professional experience. Recommendations for adjunct faculty appointments must contain a description of the appointee’s professional experience, especially if it is to be used in lieu of typical academic credentials.”
- “The following ranks or titles may be assigned to adjunct faculty: adjunct assistant professor, adjunct associate professor, and adjunct professor.”
- “Although uncompensated adjunct faculty members are not employees of the university of Tennessee, they are subject to certain university policies as a condition of receiving and retaining this honorary title. These policies include the non-discrimination policies, the Policy on Misconduct in Research and Service, applicable personnel policies (including the University Code of Conduct), fiscal policies, computer use policies, and the Statement of Policy on Patents, Copyrights, and Other Intellectual Property (when the uncompensated adjunct faculty member makes substantial use of university facilities or funds).”
- Review UTK Faculty Handbook guidance, section 4.1.6 on “Adjunct Faculty”.
- Identify CGIAR scientist and discuss the benefits, possibilities, and expectations that come with being appointed as an adjunct faculty member at UTK.
- Contact department head and Smith Center to let them know of your interest in nominating a CGIAR scientist as an adjunct faculty member.
- Follow department standard procedure for nomination of candidate for adjunct faculty status. This typically includes:
- Nomination letter from current UTK faculty member to department head, including CGIAR scientist CV.
- Provision of letter and candidate CV to department faculty by the department head.
- Prior to a faculty vote, some departments may ask the CGIAR scientist to give a seminar (virtual or in-person) to the department.
- Faculty vote at department meeting.
- CVM only: Following department vote, CVM Executive Committee reviews and votes.
- Contact CGIAR scientist to let them know outcome of faculty vote and, if appointed as adjunct, discuss first year plan for scientist’s role as adjunct faculty.
Note: Additional requirements may be required by individual departments, and nominating faculty should discuss these with their respective department heads.
For questions: Please contact Tom Gill, Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture at tomgill@utk.edu