Postdoctoral Fellow SymbioVector (SMBV) Project at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall purpose of the job

The Postdoctoral Fellow will manage research activities within the group and assist in overseeing and VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (Ref. No. IRS/ 605/022024) designing advanced experiments. He/she will work directly with the Principal Investigator and play a leading role in developing a research program to advance the use of microbial symbionts for the control of vector-borne diseases. This includes overseeing the workflow and productivity of lab personnel and providing training to them on specific techniques as necessary. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be responsible for data analysis, preparation of manuscripts, and presenting research findings through various forums. He/she must demonstrate the ability to analyze and present data in a professional format and to be able to independently prepare manuscripts, reports, and applications for approvals (research, import/export) as well as contribute to grant writing. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also contribute to developing protocols for long-term Microsporidia MB colony infection maintenance. In addition, the Postdoctoral Fellow will oversee the quality control processes of mass Microsporidia MB production and spreading potential in nature which include controlling the effects of biotic and abiotic rearing conditions, mosquito behavioral patterns, and its efficacy as an integrated vector control tool.

Specific duties
The successful candidate is expected to:

•  To determine the conditions required (larval environment parameters, rates of infection, mating patterns, blood feeding patterns) for the long-term maintenance of a Microsporidia MB infected mosquito colony.
•  To establish long-term Microsporidia MB infected colonies and optimize the rearing protocol.
•  To develop efficient quality control processes for Microsporidia mass production.
•  To measure the vectorial capacity of Microsporidia infected mosquito populations in realistic settings (e.g. in the presence of vector control tools based on insecticide, lifelong assessment on mosquito blood feeding performance and feeding mechanisms in both cage and screen house releases following nutritional stress and larval competition).
•  To measure the malaria competence of Microsporidia-infected mosquito populations considering parameters such as blood volume, transgenerational plasticity, and insecticide resistance status.
•  To identify environmental factors involved in Microsporidia MB transmission and work with the Data Management Unit to develop experimental data repository and template data entry spreadsheets.
•  To promote and establish long collaborative linkages with national, regional, and international institutions in the relevant research fields.
•  To oversee community engagement activities of the SYMBIOVECTOR project.
•  To provide training to lab personnel on specific techniques (behavioural ecology, malaria, and microsporidia infection, life history experiment, insecticide resistance screening, and mosquito colony establishment) as well as to develop and maintain SOPs for these specific techniques.
•  Maintain and where necessary coordinate the distribution of biological resources (e.g. DNA sequence databases, strains, bacteria, etc.)
•  To actively seek and secure external support for the activities, including resources to develop and grow a personal research portfolio.
•  To supervise Masters and PhD students.
•  To write, edit, correct, and review manuscripts, reviews, proposals, or any other scientific document in his field.

Requirements/qualifications

•  PhD in Biology ideally combined with behavioural ecology and entomology.
•  At least 2 years post Ph.D. experience working in a research laboratory with mosquitoes, insect pathogens/symbionts/vector /control.
•  Experience in mosquito colony establishment, ethology, and mosquito control is an advantage.
•  Experience gained in vector control in either a research organization or university.
•  Responsible for the executed activities and outputs, with significant decision-making.
•  High degree of problem-solving, planning, and control.
•  Mentors and trains students and technical staff.
•  In charge of budgets and monitoring.
•  Provide information, and data to other units.
•  At least three peer-reviewed papers submitted per year.
•  Contribute to at least 2 concepts/proposals.
•  Lead in the development of at least 2 concepts/proposals.
•  Contributes to internal and external relations with stakeholders about the scope of their activities.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Senior Scientist, Human Health Theme.