MSc Graduate Fellowship: Goat Health: Harnessing Bacteriophages for Mastitis Prevention in Kenya (GO HEAL MASTITIS) (2 positions) at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The positions

• The MSc students will play a pivotal role in the “Go Heal Mastitis” project, a collaborative effort with Laval University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). This groundbreaking initiative seeks to pioneer a phage-based intervention to combat mastitis in goats and mitigate the dependency on antibiotics in Kenyan goat farming. Engaging actively in the project, students will undertake tasks including isolating mastitis-causing bacteria such as Staphylococcus sp. and identifying bacteriophages (phages) tailored to combat these bacterial strains. Their primary focus will be on the comprehensive characterization of these bacterial isolates and phages, encompassing both in vitro and in vivo   experiments.

Terms and reference

• Collaborate with supervisor(s), to design and develop MSc research proposals that outlines the objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of the study.
• Isolate of Staphylococcus sp. strains.
• Isolate Staph-specific phages.
• Characterize the bacteriophages.
• Assess the antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus sp. strains and the presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in these isolates.
• Evaluate the ability of key phages to reduce mastitis in animal models.
• Utilize statistical tools to analyze the data, interpret findings, and draw meaningful conclusions from the study.
• Prepare reports, publications, and conference presentations to share the results of the study with the scientific community and relevant stakeholders.
• Effectively manage project timelines, budgets, and resources allocated to the study.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidate

• BSc degree in microbiology and immunology, biochemistry, or molecular biology.
• Work experience (1+ years) in a microbiology laboratory, with training in bacterial culture and molecular biology assays such as PCR/qPCR   is an added advantage.
• Experience working with phages is an added advantage.
• Completed coursework at JKUAT in an MSc degree in the stated related fields above is an added advantage.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and take the lead in research activities.