The International Livestock Research institute (ILRI) is
seeking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral veterinary immunologist who
will play a crucial role in a project on African Swine fever vaccine
development combined with leading the development of a program on porcine
immunology as it relates to antigen identification and evaluation of novel
vaccines at ILRI. This will make use of the new ILRI enhanced BSL2 level
experimental pig unit and adjacent modern laboratories, including virus
isolation facilities at ILRI. The project is funded by the German Ministry for
Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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. www.ilri.org.
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. www.cgiar.org.
Key responsibilities:
- Identification
of novel candidate ASFV antigens based on binding of peptides to expressed
porcine SLA sequences identified in collaboration with Danish collaborators.
This will involve application of the output of the predictive software
NetMHC Pan trained using SLA/peptide binding data to identify potential
novel T cell antigens in the ASFV genome;
- Experimental
infection of pigs with candidate viral vectored vaccine antigens and East
African ASFV isolates and evaluation of immunogenicity including, antibody
responses and T cell activation by gamma interferon ELISPOT;
- Develop
antigen presentation assays for assessment of T cell responses in
vaccinated or infected animals based on immortalized autologous
fibroblasts;
- Manipulation
of East African ASFV to create attenuated viruses that can be used for
dissection of T cell responses and screening of synthetic libraries using
ELISPOT assays;
- Screening
of a synthetic library peptide library derived from conserved ASFV genes
with T cells induced by infection of pigs with ASFV.
Essential Skills and Qualifications will include:
- Degree
in Veterinary Medicine;
- PhD
in Veterinary Vaccinology/Immunology;
- Record
of publication in international refereed journals;
- Experience
in analysis of software for analyzing molecular data;
- Experience
in sampling and experimental infection of pigs and porcine viral diseases
will be an advantage but is not essential.
Post location: This position is based at ILRI’s
Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Duration: 24 months with a possibility of
renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.
Position level: Postdoctoral fellow
Benefits: Base salary from USD 35,000 per annum
depending on skills and experience. ILRI offers a competitive international
remuneration and benefits package which includes: Medical insurance for staff
and dependents, life insurance, education allowance for children, Housing
allowance, Relocation Allowance, Annual 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 and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about
the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience should be
included in the curriculum vitae. The position title and reference number:
PL/PTVC/04/2014 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 11 May 2014.
To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org
To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/
