ILRI Post Doctoral Scientist Genomics - BecA Job in NairobiKenya

Vacancy Number: PDG/BecA/08/11

Department: BecA-ILRI Hub

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 2-year term with possibility of renewal

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development.

ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with other offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

ILRI also manages the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at ILRI, a new centre for excellence in modern plant and animal biology in Africa. BecA is an initiative developed within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)/ African Union African Biosciences initiative.

It consists of a Hub based on the ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya and a network of regional nodes and other affiliated laboratories and organizations throughout the region. The BecA Hub facilities are world class, including a range of molecular, plant transformation, and genomics laboratories and equipment (e.g. 454 sequencing, Biosafety level 3 laboratory, plant growth facilities).

The Hub hosts and conducts research in crop, microbe and livestock areas where new developments in science offer promise to address previously intractable problems constraining Africa’s development. Capacity building is a major goal of all activities.

The scope covers agriculture and food security and their intersections with human health and nutrition, and the sustainable use of Africa’s natural resources.

Further information is available at http://hub.africabiosciences.org/.

The BecA Hub seeks to recruit a Post-Doctoral Scientist- Genomics whose key responsibilities are outlined below. This is an international appointment reporting to the BecA Hub Technology Manager.

Responsibilities

Play a leading role in developing and executing research projects leveraging next generation sequencing technologies;Interact with various scientists in the BecA region and beyond to help design and implement genomics activities;Participate in capacity building through teaching basic and advanced molecular biology and genomics techniques.A PhD degree obtained not more than 5 years ago in the field of Genomics or Molecular biology;Experience in genome sequencing and analysis;Experience with molecular biology, including working knowledge of standard tools for sequence characterization;Experience working in an advanced biotechnology research group;Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to perform in a multicultural research environment and as part of a multidisciplinary team;Excellent written and spoken English.Experience in any of the following areas will be considered an asset:Knowledge of genome sequencing strategiesSolid working knowledge of various bioinformatics packages used for genome data analysis.Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Terms of appointment: The position is classified as Scientist/Research Level 4A and is on a 2 year term appointment with possibility for renewal for one year, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: – Medical insurance – Life insurance – and allowances for: — Children’s Education — Housing and Baggage. Home leave travel and annual leave entitlement of 30 days per annum plus 11 paid public holidays.

Applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and indicating earliest availability, curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to email: recruit-ilri-Ken@cgiar.org by 30 September 2011.

The position title and reference number POST DOCTORAL SCIENTIST –GENOMICS:PDG/BECA/08/11 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email applications. Only online applications will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find out more about ILRI and the BecA-ILRI Hub, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/ and http://hub.africabiosciences.org/

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified candidates from African countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply.

Visit www.kenyan-jobs.com for many more jobs in Kenya