Senior Research Officer I at icipe - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Overall Purpose of the Job

To support groundbreaking research on Microsporidia MB, a natural symbiont with potential to block malaria transmission in Anopheles mosquitoes. This role is critical for preparing pilot releases in Kenya by leading entomological baseline studies, optimizing mosquito collection protocols, and coordinating field teams across remote sites.

Specific duties
The successful candidate is expected to:

• Conduct mosquito collection using but not limited to human/cattle baited traps, light traps, pyrethrum spray catches, aspirator and swarm collections.
• Systematically record species composition, density, and infection status (Microsporidia MB and
• Plasmodium) and insecticide resistance levels in the field sites.
• Deploy sensors to track temperature, humidity, rainfall, and vegetation cover at field sites and systematically record data.
• Oversee setup of a new semi-field laboratory and insectary to support mosquito colonization.
• Train and supervise field assistants in ethical mosquito collection and data entry.
• Ensure compliance with safety and ethical protocols.
• Work with local communities, health facilities, and county governments.
• Train and supervise junior staff, students, and technicians on entomological and molecular methods
• Manage laboratory inventory, prepare reagents, and maintain accurate records of protocols and results.
• Assist with data analysis, reporting, and manuscript preparation.

Requirements/ qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with courses in Entomology, Vector Biology, Ecology, or related field.
• At least 6 years of hands-on experience in mosquito trapping/identification (Anopheles species preferred) and field data collection and management.
• Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) certified.
• Experience with developing infrastructure, semi-field systems or insectary management.
• Additional training in vector taxonomy, medical entomology, and bioinformatics.
• Basic knowledge of molecular techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR).
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to peer-reviewed publications.

Other desirable skills

• Timely execution of field and laboratory protocols.
• Quality and reproducibility of scientific data.
• Accuracy of records and reporting.
• Effective mentorship and support to the project team.
• Adherence to biosafety and GCLP standards.