Research Officer I- Tick Unit at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research Officer I – Tick Unit to provide technical support to ILRI tick vector research and services.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

Key Responsibilities

General role

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of research activities within Tick Unit projects.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to high-level of quarantine at the tick unit consistent with a BSL-2 biocontainment facility.
• Train junior research associates/fellows in laboratory procedures related to tick vectors and tick-borne pathogens.
• Assist with coordinating lab visits of the tick unit to internal and external visitors.
• Regular reporting of activities undertaken.
• Contribute to scientific publications.

Specific roles

Tick Unit animals.

• In liaison with the ILRI farm, source parasite-free animals (cattle and rabbits) for research undertaken by the tick unit.
• Evaluate the health status of animals housed at the tick unit and take appropriate action.
• Prepare animal samples and perform screening for haemoparasites by microscopy and ELISA.
• Maintain detailed records systems of experimental procedures undertaken at the Tick Unit according to International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Products (VICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
• Procure and maintain an inventory of lab consumables related to animal work.



 

Tick colonies and Tick Cell Biobank

• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of laboratory tick colonies using animals or artificial feeding systems.
• Conduct and submit reports on the status of closed tick colonies/stocks at the tick unit.
• Dissection of ticks for assessing infections and generating tick biological material, such as salivary glands and sporozoites.
• Perform acaricide resistance bioassays.
• Maintenance of tick cell cultures and preparation of media under the Tick Cell Biobank Outpost project.

Support African Swine Fever (ASF) projects.

• Contribute to research activities of ASF projects.
• Contribute to the development of field protocols related to ASF research.

• Participate and report during ASF group meetings.

Requirements

• Master of Science biomedical or veterinary sciences
• Certification for working with animals required
• At least 3 years’ experience in a research environment with many of the above skills.
• Experience working with animals including pigs is an added advantage

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG 13. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; pension, medical and other insurances