Job Description

Job Description/Requirements

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
(Ref. No. IRS/4 83 0 3 202 2

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW (ARTHROPOD MICROBIOME RESEARCH)

icipe is a pan-African and non-profit Centre of Excellence for research and development and capacity building in insect science and its applications. Its mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food and nutritional security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building. Since its establishment in 1970, icipe has become a significant contributor to scientific research and innovative technologies required to meet the health and food security challenges of sub-Saharan Africa. The Centre has achieved this status by developing alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management technologies and products that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and are affordable to resource-limited rural and urban communities. icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with offices in Ethiopia and Uganda, a major station on the shores of Lake Victoria, and several other field stations in Kenya. Employing close to 500 national and international staff, icipe also has approximately 150 graduate students who contribute to its research portfolio annually. The Centre currently has operations in more than 40 African countries and thriving partnerships with universities and research organizations across the world. (www.icipe.org)

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2021–2025 http://www.icipe.org/system/files_force/about/corporate_publications_files/icipe_Vision_and_Strategy_2021-2025.pdf

icipe seeks to recruit an outstanding, dynamic and self-motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to complement arthropod microbiome research in the Environmental Health Theme, with active collaboration with the Human Health Theme, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, and icipe’s One Health agenda. The candidate should have broad experience in the function of microbiomes in arthropods in diverse ecosystems to enhance animal, environment, human and plant health within the context of one health, in addition to contributing to growing new bioeconomy products from microbes. The candidate should be able to develop and deploy their capabilities to support various programmes and projects, including forging external partnerships with like-minded institutions in the field. The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville campus. The position will be offered for an initial contract of 2 years, renewable subject to continued project needs, funding for the position and performance of the staff member. The post will be full-time for the appropriately qualified candidate. A competitive and generous compensation package will be offered to the right candidate for the position based on experience. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year, and duty-free privileges. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate to the country and settle in Nairobi, Kenya.

Living in Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, hosts all urban and social amenities, and offers a comfortable, convenient and pleasurable life. A wide variety of excellent international schools and well-equipped medical facilities are open 24/7 in Nairobi. The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers. Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres, as well as several UN agencies. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

Overall purpose of the job
Reporting to the Head, Environmental Health Theme, the successful applicant will be responsible for:

▪ Exploring symbiont biodiversity, functionality, and complexity in arthropods contributing to ecosystem services (including pollinators, edible insects, and natural enemies) and impacting on their pest/vector status.
▪ Developing predictive capabilities of microbiome function in relation to arthropods and their effects in a wide range of environments.
▪ Conducting multidisciplinary and integrative analysis of microbiome functions and their interactions with host and environment within the context of One Health.

Specific duties
The successful candidate is expected to:
▪ Use cutting-edge sequencing and bioinformatic techniques to assess the biodiversity of microbiomes associated with arthropods.
▪ Assess co-diversification and interactions between arthropods, their primary symbionts, their secondary facultative symbionts, and their gut microbiota.
▪ Test transfer of symbionts between arthropod species and the role of host genes in regulating symbiosis in addition to coordination of gene expression and content between symbiont and host.
▪ Assess the role of symbionts in cytoplasmic incompatibility, fitness, behaviour and paternal transmission of natural enemies.
▪ Investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning these phenotypes using a variety of techniques (RNA-seq, proteomics and microbial genetics).
▪ Decipher the functions of gut microbiome in arthropods, their metabolites on nutritional status, and their interaction with diet.
▪ Explore the gain/loss of microbe-host association in arthropods in relation to phylogenetic history and correlate with internal and external environmental changes.
▪ Assess changes in gut microbiomes in relation to changes in biotic or abiotic factors (e.g. invasion, climate and host plants) and their impact on ecosystem service contribution.
▪ Develop standards, protocols, and reference materials for microbiome research and development at icipe.

Requirements/qualifications
▪ PhD in Entomology, with expertise in insect microbiome research.
▪ Proven track record in the area of beneficial insect health research for development, as demonstrated by publication record.
▪ Evidence of securing external funding to support research..
▪ Ability to create and foster an innovative work environment, and team building to deliver on agreed goals.
▪ High degree of organisation, adaptability, and prioritisation.
▪ Skills in behavioural assays, electrophysiology, mass spectrometry, molecular techniques and working with beekeeper/sericulture farmers.
▪ Excellent publication track record.
▪ Experience in capacity building through mentorship of MSc and undergraduate students.
▪ Excellent communication skills.

Reporting
This position reports to the Head, Environmental Health Theme.

HOW TO APPLY
This position is open until filled. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter; (b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses); (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/ competencies/abilities and skills; (d) two published papers

Candidates are required to apply online through: http://recruit.icipe.org or by email: recruitment@icipe.org

icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

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