Jill E. Cairns

I am a Principal Scientist working for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

Trained as a physiologist, I specialize in crop breeding support. I started my career at Africa Rice, Côte d'Ivoire looking at the influence of the soil physical environment on the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with root traits in rice. I moved to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines where I spent eight years dissecting mechanisms of drought tolerance in upland rice. In 2009 I joined the Global Maize Program in CIMMYT-Mexico and subsequently transferred to Zimbabwe. Over the past decade my research has become more focused towards increasing the rate of genetic gain within maize breeding pipelines. I am part of a team working towards increasing selection intensity and accuracy through the deployment of new tools and technologies. 

There remains a significant gender gap in the rate of adoption of improved maize varieties in sub-Saharan Africa. I have a strong personal interest towards ensuring greater gender intentionality within maize breeding pipelines.