Nasser Yao holds a PhD degree in Genetics and Molecular Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is a Scientist and a Plant Molecular Breeder in the BecA-ILRI Hub. Prior to joining ILRI, Nasser was the Principal Rice breeder at the Ivorian National Centre for Agricultural Research (CNRA). Previously, he worked for the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) as a Research Fellow, Research Associate and Consultant for the Nested Associated Mapping and the Rice Challenge Initiatives projects. During this period, his work focused on rain-fed lowland and upland rice in aspects related to drought tolerance, anther culture, yield and yield potential, resistance to pest and disease, molecular and agro morphological characterization of germplasm, populations’ development and quality seed production.