Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Disease Ecology Research) at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall purpose of the job

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the successful applicant will be responsible for coordinating research activities within the Disease Ecology Group at icipe-Thomas Odhiambo Campus, Mbita. This includes proposing, planning, and managing selected research projects, staff training and quality checks, analysing data, preparing reports and publications, presenting findings at institutional, national and international meetings and contributing to resource mobilations.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Manage the ‘One Health-Cattle IVM’ project including conceiving mixed-methods research designs and tools investigating human and animal health, preparing standard operating procedures, setting
• goals and timelines, daily supervision of technical staff and students, procurement, liaison with finance and grant offices.
• Contribute to the ‘Tungiasis Ecology’ project by providing technical expertise, training and supervision to students and staff.
• Contribute to the ‘Malaria Push-Pull’ project by supporting data analysis and publications, conception of novel ideas based on spatial repellents and attractive odour-baits for the development of new grant proposals.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research groups and multiple project field sites; convene weekly progress meetings, and ensure adherence to all protocols.
• Provide training in and oversee morphological and molecular analyses of insect samples.
• Review project budgets and prepare procurement plans.
• Develop standard operating procedures for all project activities and keep an audit trail for project activities in response to log frames and timelines.
• Prepare data collection tools, databases and implement statistical data analysis.
• Prepare and contribute to progress and end of project reports.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication.
• Present project findings at internal and external scientific meetings
• Provide training and support to staff and students; ensure adherence to ethical and safeguarding practices in allocated human health project activities.
• Establish and sustain a good working relationship with national, county and community stakeholders in all field sites.

Requirements/qualifications

• PhD in Medical Entomology; degree awarded within past 3 years.
• At least 8 years of working experience in a research support capacity at a recognized research institute.
• Proven track record in implementing and coordinating mixed-methods malaria research from bench to bedsite.
• Excellent entomology skills, including molecular entomology, semi-field experiments, mosquito rearing, trap evaluations and vector monitoring and evaluation.
• Exemplified working experience on diverse set of vector control tools, including mosquito larviciding, house improvements (‘healthy home’ concept), spatial repellents, odour-based mass trapping and cattle-targetted vector control interventions.
• Excellent working experience in tungiasis research, including disease diagnoses and ecology of offhost stages.
• Expertise in community engagement, stakeholder mapping, and implementation of qualitative surveys for formative research.
• Experience working across sectors, including built environment and animal health.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced working environment, coordinating several projects and teams simultaneously.
• High level of resilience including excellent problem-solving skills, adaptability and emotional intelligence.
• High degree of organisation, and prioritisation.
• Proven ability to create and foster an innovative work environment, and team building to deliver on agreed goals.
• Publication track record.
• Experience in capacity building through mentorship of MSc and undergraduate students.
• Excellent communication skills.

Closing: 26 August 2022