NGO Jobs in Nairobi Kenya - icipe (Scientific Research)

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 has approximately 350 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes, located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.

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
 

I. Job Description

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

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
 

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:
 

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
 

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.