Postdoctoral Fellow (Vector Chemical Ecologist) at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall purpose of the job
Reporting to the Senior Scientist and Head of Animal Health Theme, the successful applicant will be responsible for:

•  Work within the research group focused on developing and implementing an Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategy to counter the threat of transmission of vector-borne diseases to livestock and humans. The holder will contribute to developing environmentally sound vector control tools to manage vector-borne diseases of livestock and zoonotic diseases.
•  Carry out studies including elucidating vector (tsetse, stomoxys, ticks) chemical ecology, pathogens-livestock host-vectors interactions.
•  Investigate how pathogens modulate host metabolites.
•  Identify how infection of the host affects vector behaviour.
•  Coordinate a balance of basic and applied research understanding the behaviour, mechanism of various vector-host interactions in different livestock husbandry systems from pastoralists to zero grazing, and mixed livestock farming systems that will lead to discovery of control tools.

Specific duties
The successful candidate is expected to:

•  To undertake high-quality research on how vectors respond to ecologically relevant livestock, wild animals and environmental odour cues in a complex changing climate and chemical environment.
•  Investigate the neuroethology of tsetse flies (cellular and molecular mechanism of tsetse host interaction).
•  Investigate multitrophic level interactions among various livestock and wild host- tsetse fliespathogens interaction across diverse ecologies.
•  Investigate the impacts of pathogens on host metabolites.
•  Design laboratory and field-based assays to evaluate novel vector control tools.
•  Develop neurogenetics tools that are established in Drosophila to apply in non-model insects such as tsetse flies, stomoxys to facilitate discovery of behavior-modifying odors.
•  Assess the potential and efficacy of various vector control tools (in collaboration with the Animal Health Theme scientists) and how to integrate them into an IVM strategy.
•  Develop and improve tools for vector surveillance and control to enhance livestock resilience in partnership with the Technology Transfer Unit, and other stakeholders.
•  Participate in development of project proposals to strengthen climate-smart livestock husbandry systems research within the Animal Health Theme.
•  Supervise junior scientists and graduate students (MSc and PhD) in chemical ecology of disease vectors.
•  Publish research outputs in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements/qualifications

•  PhD in Insect Chemical Ecology or related field.
•  2 years of postdoctoral experience in a relevant research area.
•  Broad knowledge of chemical ecology techniques (GC-MS, single sensillum recording, bioinformatics, gene silencing, molecular techniques, behavioral bioassay etc.) as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed high-impact journals.
•  Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
•  Experience in statistical designs, reporting, budgeting and data analysis in support of the research activities.
•  At least 3 publications in the relevant field in a peer-reviewed journal.
•  Significant contribution to the preparation of at least two successfully funded proposals.
•  Demonstrate involvement in donor relations or building fund-raising coalitions with partners.
•  Experience in stakeholder engagement.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Senior Scientist and Head of Animal Health Theme