From 1959 to 1972, Dr. Chandler was the founding Director of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Philippines.

[1] Working with a team of twenty-four researchers from numerous countries in Southeast Asia, Dr. Chandler gathered thousands of rice varieties to be tested and eventually selected to be grown under various conditions.

[1] These varieties helped the Philippines to achieve self-sufficiency in rice by 1968, and still provide food for millions across Asia.

[1] In 1971, Chandler was appointed as first Director General of the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC).

In 1975, the government of the Republic of China awarded Chandler with the Order of Brilliant Star.