Vacancies Announcement - EU Bee Health Project
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is an intergovernmental organisation funded by governmental aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in the environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improving health and agricultural productivity in the tropics.
icipe seeks to recruit a multidisciplinary team of young and highly motivated research scientists and a postdoctoral research fellow to work within the EU Bee Health Project entitled “African reference laboratory (with satellite stations) for the management of pollinator bee diseases and pests for food security”, in the Adaptation to Climate Change and Ecosystem Services (ACCES) cluster.
The positions are tenable in Nairobi, Kenya with travel to
participating African countries (i.e. Ethiopia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and
Liberia).
Competitive compensation packages will be offered to the right candidates.
1. Research Scientist - Chemistry / Biochemistry
Competitive compensation packages will be offered to the right candidates.
1. Research Scientist - Chemistry / Biochemistry
I. Job Description
Overall purpose of the job
Overall purpose of the job
To work in the Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Unit to recognise the role of pesticides on behaviour, nutrition and physiology of different bee races in the project countries.
Specific duties
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Develop
extraction and analytical protocols to identify pesticide residues in
African bee races and components of hive environment from apiaries.
- Investigate
the influence of pesticides on behaviour, nutrition and physiology of
different bee races.
- Investigate
multitrophic interactions between pesticides, honeybees and associated
arthropod pests in the different bee races across the project countries
and identify potential semiochemicals for managing bee pests and diseases.
- Liaise
with other scientists in the team to develop guidelines for the protection
and preservation of African bee races.
II. Knowledge Required for Performing the Job
- Ability
to assist in project management and implementation.
- Knowledge
of French is an added advantage.
III. Qualifications Required
- PhD
degree in chemistry or biochemistry obtained from a recognised university
within the last five years.
IV. Experience Required
- Should
have previously carried out pesticide residue analysis.
- Proven
experience in the operation and maintenance of chromatographic and
spectroscopic equipment.
- Proven
ability to interpret spectroscopic data.
- Track
record of the collection, isolation and analysis of semiochemicals.
- Track
record of publications and report writing.
V. Disposition
- Ability
to interact effectively with communities during fieldwork.
- Ability
to mentor technical staff and students.
- Ability
to work independently, and as part of a team, both in the laboratory and
in the field.
- Ability
to communicate effectively and to reason independently.
- Must
possess and demonstrate leadership skills.
2. Research Scientist - Honeybee Pests
I. Job Description
Overall purpose of the job:
To recognise pests of honeybees and stingless bees in the
project countries
Specific duties
Specific duties
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Conduct
surveys in the project countries and investigate honeybee pests’ dynamics
in African races.
- Identify
various honeybee pests from affected apiaries and feral colonies.
- Investigate
infestation of hives at apiary and landscape levels.
- Identify
risk factors for pest infestation.
- Facilitate
the protection and preservation of African beekeeping related industries
from bee pests through training and capacity building.
II. Knowledge Required for Performing the Job
- In-depth
knowledge on the biology, ecology and control of bee pests, and their
surveillance.
- Sound
knowledge on geographic information systems (GIS) and the statistical
analysis and interpretation of geospatial data.
- Strong
analytical and problem-solving skills in the field of apiculture.
- Knowledge
of French is an added advantage.
III. Qualifications Required
- PhD
degree in entomology with special emphasis on bee pests’ research,
obtained from a recognised university within the last five years.
IV. Experience Required
- Experience
with surveillance/tracking of bee pests such as Varroa and tracheal mites,
and small hive beetle.
- Conducted
bee behaviour research.
- Experience
with laboratory diagnosis of bee pests.
- Track
record of publications and report writing.
V. Disposition
- Ability
to interact effectively with communities during fieldwork.
- Ability
to mentor technical staff and students.
- Ability
to work independently, and as part of a team, both in the laboratory and
in the field.
- Ability
to communicate effectively and to reason independently.
- Must
possess and demonstrate leadership skills.
3. Research Scientist - Honeybee Diseases
I. Job Description
Overall purpose of the job:
To investigate and identify diseases of honeybees and stingless bees in the project countries
Specific duties
To investigate and identify diseases of honeybees and stingless bees in the project countries
Specific duties
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Conduct
surveys in project countries and investigate honeybee disease dynamics in
African races.
- Identify
pathogens associated with various honeybee and stingless bee diseases
collected from different husbandry systems.
- Investigate
disease transmission in bees, and identify risk factors at colony and
landscape levels.
- Facilitate
the protection and preservation of African beekeeping related industries
from bee diseases through training and capacity building.
II. Knowledge Required for Performing the Job
- Sound
knowledge on geographic information systems (GIS) and the statistical
analysis and interpretation of geospatial data.
- In-depth
knowledge on the biology, ecology, epidemiology and control of bee
diseases and their monitoring.
- Strong
analytical and problem solving skills in the field of apiculture.
- Ability
to undertake independent research, and design and run training programmes.
- Knowledge
of French is an added advantage.
III. Qualifications Required
- PhD
degree in biological sciences with special emphasis on bee diseases’
research and behaviour, obtained from a recognised university within the
last five years.
IV. Experience Required
- Previous
lab and field experience in research and diagnosis of bee diseases such as
foulbrood, chalkbrood, sacbrood, bee viruses and protozoans.
- Proven
expertise in bee behaviour research.
- Track
record of publications and report writing.
V. Disposition
- Ability
to interact effectively with communities during fieldwork.
- Ability
to mentor technical staff and students.
- Ability
to work independently, and as part of a team, both in the laboratory and
in the field.
- Ability
to communicate effectively and to reason independently.
- Must
possess and demonstrate leadership skills.
4. Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Pollination Ecology
I. Job Description
Overall purpose of the job:
Overall purpose of the job:
To understand the role of honeybees and stingless bees in
current agricultural ecosystems and devise techniques to support pollinator
populations with special emphasis on the health of honeybees and stingless
bees, and food security in general
Specific duties
Specific duties
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Study
the plant–pollinator interface with particular reference to pollination
ecology.
- Investigate
the above coherences by collecting qualitative and quantitative data on
floral coloration and rewards.
- Study
signal perception to explain the functional mechanism of plant–pollinator
network.
- Experimentally
test how colour diversity and bee diseases and pests affect the foraging
behaviour of pollinators along a land use gradient in exploratory studies.
- Set
up experiments in the greenhouse to demonstrate the pollination services
provided by different bee races to several crops.
II. Knowledge Required for Performing the Job
- Ability
to design experiments to meet objectives.
- Ability
to learn new techniques.
- Strong
analytical and problem-solving skills in the field of apiculture,
especially pollination services.
- Well
versed in statistical tools and applications.
- Knowledge
of French is an advantage.
III. Qualifications Required
- PhD
degree in entomology with special emphasis on pollination research,
obtained from a recognised university within the last two years.
IV. Experience Required
- Research
on the plant–pollinator interface.
- Evidence
of previous experience in setting up pollination services using honeybees
or stingless bees.
- Track
record of publications and report writing.
V. Disposition
- Ability
to interact effectively with communities during fieldwork.
- Ability
to mentor technical staff and students.
- Must
possess and demonstrate leadership skills.
Applications with detailed résumés, including current salary
details and names of 3 referees (including telephone and e-mail address) should
be sent to icipehr@icipe.org.
The deadline for applications is 22nd August 2012 or until the
positions are filled, whichever is the earlier.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
icipe is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.