Post Doctoral Fellow - Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department

 

 

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Rotating rice with soya has created a multitude of benefits for farmers: It mops up the water, thereby eliminating breeding sites for mosquitoes and thus reducing malaria, increases soil fertility and provides farmers with a new high-value cash crop.

Post Doctoral Fellow - Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department

icipe is an independent, intergovernmental organization funded by government aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in the environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improving health and agricultural productivity in Africa. icipe has approximately 300 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes, located at various sites in Kenya, and other locations in Africa, including Ethiopia and Sudan.

 

icipe seeks to recruit a young and highly motivated Post Doctoral Fellow to work in its Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department and be part of the new collaborative project entitled “An Integrated Response System For Emerging Infectious Diseases in East Africa (AVID)” (http://avid.icipe.org; http://sites.google.com/site/arbovirusdynamicsprojectsite). AVID aims to bring current molecular and epidemiological approaches to the detection of pathogens – both known and unknown in field samples. One of icipe’s critical roles in this project is to develop a platform of wet-lab technologies enabling high-throughput screening and detection of known and unknown arthropod transmitted viruses (arboviruses).

This position is an opportunity for a dynamic and highly motivated post-doc who is capable of working in dispersed and complex teams, to make important contributions to the understanding of disease in Africa – particularly epidemic viral disease. This job is based in Nairobi.

Requirements

  • PhD in molecular biology/genetics.
  • Experience in molecular analysis of complex biological material.
  • Hands on experience of highly multiplexed PCR.
  • Quantitative PCR and mass spectrometry, e.g. for diagnostics and of working with complex, mixed biological samples.
  • Phylogenetic/population analysis in prokaryotes or eukaryotes would be an advantage.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to reason independently.
  • A track record of publications and report writing.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of French would be an added advantage.

Reespnsibilities

  • Designing and testing highly multiplexed assays for host/vector/pathogen identification.
  • Establishing QPCR and other analytical protocols including mass-spectrometry for detection of known viruses.
  • Develop protocols for the identification of unknown pathogens.

 

This appointment is for two years with the possibility to renew subject to performance and funding availability. Benefits including a competitive international compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate.

 

Applications will be accepted until the position gets filled.  Please send an application with a detailed CV and names and addresses of 3 referees including e-mail addresses and Fax numbers to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or:

The Human Resources Department
icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health
P.O. Box 30772-00100
Nairobi
Kenya

icipe is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Posted on: January 22nd 2010