The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks
to recruit a scientist whose focus will be the development and/or validation
and application of molecular diagnostics tools with a focus on animal and plant
viruses that create major constraints in African agriculture. This position is
within the ILRI-BecA-Hub.
ILRI works to enhance the roles livestock play in
pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR
Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many
partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa
and other hubs in East, West and Southern Africa and South, Southeast and East
Asia.
CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a
food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are
members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner
organizations.
ILRI also manages the Biosciences eastern and
central Africa (BecA) Hub at ILRI, the centre for excellence
in modern plant and animal biology in Africa. BecA is an initiative developed
within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)/
African Union African Biosciences initiative. It consists of a Hub based on the
ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya and a network of regional nodes and other
affiliated laboratories and organizations throughout the region. The BecA Hub
facilities are world class, including a range of molecular, plant
transformation, and genomics laboratories and equipment (e.g. 454 sequencing,
Biosafety level 3 laboratory, plant growth facilities). The Hub hosts and
conducts research in crop, microbe and livestock areas where new developments
in science offer promise to address previously intractable problems
constraining Africa’s development. Capacity building is a major goal of
all activities. The scope covers agriculture and food security and their
intersections with human health and nutrition, and the sustainable use of
Africa’s natural resources.
Responsibilities
- Adaptation
and development of diagnostics tools for use in African context (low- to
high- tech range)
- Contribute
to the development of new research proposals and mobilize funding for
further research;
- Training
of partners in the utilization of diagnostics tools;
- Contribute
to program reporting and managing relationship with partners;
- Publish
results of research in high quality peer-reviewed international journals;
- Supervising
junior staff, students and visiting scientists.
Requirements
- A PhD
degree in the field of molecular biology or related areas;
- At
least 3 years post-doctoral experience in academic or commercial
environment;
- Experience
in molecular diagnostics of plant and/or animal disease;
- Adaptation
or development of molecular diagnostic tools;
- Experience
with molecular biology, including working knowledge of standard tools for
sequence characterization;
- Experience
in immunology, immunological methods and serology;
- Experience
working in an advanced biotechnology research group;
- Knowledge
of genome sequencing strategies;
- Solid
working knowledge of various bioinformatics packages used for sequencing
data analysis;
- Previous
successful proposal development;
- Track
record of publishing in high quality peer-reviewed articles;
- Excellent
communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to perform in a
multicultural research environment and as part of a multidisciplinary
team;
- Excellent
written and spoken English.
Position level: Scientist Level 1.
Post location: The position will be based in
Nairobi, Kenya.
Duration: 3 years with the possibility of
renewal contingent upon individual performance and funding.
Terms of appointment: Base salary from USD
45,000 per annum depending on skills and experience.
Benefits package which includes 15% Pension, Medical
insurance, Life insurance and allowances for: Education, Housing, Relocation,
Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.
*Benefits and salary are tax free subject to compliance with
tax regulations of country of citizenship.
Applications: Applicants should provide a cover
letter and curriculum vitae: a list of publications and names and
addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who are
knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work
experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position title and
reference number: REF: SMD/BECA/09/2013 should be clearly
indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be
submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on
or before 10 October 2013.
