International Livestock Research Institute Careers

Key Responsibilities:

Sample Management:

• Receive, catalogue, and in collaboration with both internal and external laboratory staff, scientists/PIs, who originate/ own the samples from their respective field and laboratory research, accurately record incoming samples details in the digital sample management system.
• Document all biorepository activities including release and disposal of samples in accordance with the set biosafety standards and policy
• Monitor and manage the cold chain sample management as per GLP guidelines to ensure samples remain viable and to prevent any errors or deviations
• Work with the ILRI engineering team and laboratory management ensure the Liquid Nitrogen Plant and sample storage tanks and the digital monitoring systems are in optimal operational condition all the time, and that their routine maintenance is carried out on time to ensure continuous supply of liquid Nitrogen to the tanks and cryosamples
• Work with the lab users to ensure that samples are available for the testing lab and biorepository where needed and coordinate shipments (including all permits required) with the support of the lab management
• Advise users of the Biobank facility on logging into the sample management system required for study specific protocols
• Work closely with the laboratory users to ensure accurate registration/documentation of samples when projects start and reconcile all samples during and at the close of projects in compliance with IREC/IBC and protocols/project requirements
• Conduct testing for viability of different sample types archived in liquid nitrogen tanks and freezers.
• Serve as central point of contact for sample reception, retrieval and shipments thus ensuring adherence to sample management QMS, approved shipment requirements, plans and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
• Maintain Biosecurity in the platform and work with security unit in monitoring access to the platform
• Maintain inventory in LIMS and back up data for sample inventory in the platform includingarranging, sorting samples in -80 freezers.
• Conduct sample audits, and maintain updated records
• Contribute to the preparation of platform reports and present analysis and findings in meetings.
• Compile the recharges for services at Biorepository

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) Expertise

• Updating of LIMS related SOPs, work instructions or validation processes with the support of LIMS provider
• Maintain and support in the configuration of LIMS to optimize sample management workflow and troubleshoot to minimize disruptions in sample management
• Ensure LIMS system is updated to support needs of users and LIMS ILRI administrator or vendor

Quality Control

• Assist in the development of required SOPs, forms and tracking documentation for sample management system
• Systematically inspect, review, and document the status of all sample materials physically stored in the LIMS and maintain highest level of data integrity
• Ensure that the samples are appropriately barcoded for easy and accurate tracking throughout their lifecycle
• Assist in regular sample management oversight audits in compliance with biobanking quality management regulatory and institutional policies

Data Management

• Ensure accurate and timely entry of sample data into the LIMS system
• Verify and validate data (and sample metadata) for completeness, accuracy
• Reconcile data for archived samples to update the LIMS system for liquid nitrogen and freezers
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, charts, and graphs to users and support data analysis and share with users to continuously improve the biorepository

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, Microbiology, Biomedical sciences, Laboratory sciences, Information Management Systems, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in research laboratory techniques and Laboratory Information Systems (LIMS) is required
• Previous experience in a sample management role within a laboratory setting is required
• Certification with IATA on handling and shipment of infectious biological materials
• Demonstrate strong oral and written communication and facilitation skills as well as confidence with presentations
• Experience in laboratory sample processing and a variety of laboratory assays to be used for sample viability tests is highly desirable
• High level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a cooperative and collaborative manner with all levels, across functional teams both internally and externally
• Ability to work on problems of moderate complexity and diverse scope using good judgment within defined procedures and policies to determine appropriate action
• Very good project planning and implementation skills in a cross-disciplinary and multi-cultural team are required
• Flexibility to change priorities and be comfortable with changing deadlines to meet organizational needs is required
• High level of independence in performing responsibilities is highly desirable

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with locating data sources and contribute to the assessment of the quality and resolution of data held by multi-lateral organizations (e.g. FAO, WHO, etc). Further, assess availability of higher quality national data from government and nationally focused research organizations.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between stakeholders and end-users of the model. Lead and manage consultations with stakeholders to determine the most suitable data sources and outcomes for the project modelling.
• Contribute to the building of the Kenyan national food system model ensuring that it has incorporated relevant, valid data to produce a useful tool that has good uptake by intended end-users (government policy makers, think tanks, NGOs, universities, and food industry decision-makers) within and beyond the project lifetime.
• Advocate for the model and liaise with local stakeholders, such as think tanks, government departments, food sector groups and other industry stakeholders.
• Organize, document and analyse feedback sessions on model development to allow stakeholders to evaluate progress against goals and steer towards best outcomes.
• Apply the model to investigate relevant food system questions and demonstrate its capability through academic publications and wider dissemination of these results.
• Contribute to the preparation of project progress and final reports.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant field: agriculture, food, nutrition, or related field.
• Experience within two to four years of completing PhD.
• Experience working in Low- and Middle-Income Country contexts.
• Experience working with large databases.
• Familiarity with food systems, agriculture, and agri-food policies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Eastern Africa.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills.
• Demonstrated strong analytical abilities and effective project management skills.
• Willingness to travel between Kenya and New Zealand and to work outside of 8-5 to allow calls with New Zealand team due to time zone differences.

The Position:

• Internships are short-term academic training for young professionals who join ILRI for a short period (usually 3 months or less but can be up to 6 months in length) as part of their academic curriculum and are expected to resume their studies upon completion of their internship. The internship aims at helping students connect theory to practice, as well as nurturing young minds into livestock agriculture.
• Interns work five days per week under the supervision and mentorship of a staff member in the department or program to which they are assigned.

Requirements:

Applicants must at the time of application meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled for an undergraduate university degree program, with at least one full semester to completion. Through strategic partnerships, ILRI also provides internship opportunities to students enrolled for diploma and certificate programs, as well as senior high school students.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Proficiency in English.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a stipend to cover living expenses as well as insurance. 

Key responsibilities

The Post Doc will have sufficient knowledge on vector-borne diseases, infectious disease modelling, and applied computing to enable him/her to lead the development of robust prediction models that balances the need for simplicity and accuracy. Despite this expectation, the post doc will have opportunities to develop his/her skills further through training, mentorship or any other relevant competency development activities. The Post Doc will work in a multidisciplinary team of local and international researchers, and s/he will:   

• set up research questions and analytical frameworks that will guide the development of dynamic models for studying transmission patterns of the vector-borne zoonotic diseases that have been prioritised for this work. The analytical frameworks will be developed in consultation with local and international partners and stakeholders
• develop process-based spatially explicit vector-host-pathogen mathematical or simulation models and link these with decision support frameworks where policy-relevant outputs such as dynamic risk maps are displayed
• apply statistical and computational methods to available primary and secondary data to generate input parameters for the dynamic models that will have been developed
• participate in webinars, conferences, journal clubs and stakeholder meetings where s/he will be expected to share research findings, lessons learnt, or new research leads based on the work s/he will be leading
• develop new research proposals in partnership with the project team members to extend the work s/he will be leading be given adequate opportunities to enrol for professional trainings to build their competencies on modelling and data science

Requirements

• A doctoral degree in epidemiology, applied statistics or public health in the previous 5 years from an accredited college or university
• PhD candidates who are at the final stages of their program (e.g. awaiting graduation) will also be considered 
• Strong quantitative skills including statistical, systems dynamic, and simulation modelling
• Strong programming skills using the commonly used languages e.g. R, Python.
• A track record of publications. Higher weights will be allocated to publications where the candidate is the first author
• Excellent knowledge of the English language both in speaking and in writing.
• Experience on training and mentoring students, junior scientists or project partners
• Supervising the design and implementation of research projects

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the PI, play a lead role in ILRI’s research on the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to tolerance towards Theileria parva, the causative agent of East Coast fever (ECF), in African Indigenous cattle with specific single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with this tolerance.

Activities include:

• Perform in vitro infectivity assays with T. parva sporozoites and lymphocytes from tolerant and susceptible animals.
• Perform cell proliferation and flow cytometry assays to characterize the parasites' subcellular tropism in tolerant and susceptible animals.
• Plan experiments to generate qPCR and transcriptomics data of infected cells.
• Conduct genome editing experiments in stable T. parva Muguga-infected lymphocytes (TpM) lines to identify/confirm genes responsible for the in vivo ECF-tolerance and in vitro proliferation phenotypes.
• Present research findings at regular lab meetings.
• Present papers at international scientific conferences.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Contribute to the development of resource mobilization proposals as appropriate.

Requirements

• PhD in Cellular Biology, Cancer Biology, Host-Pathogen Interaction or Mammalian Innate Immunity.
• Proven extensive experience working with flow cytometry and cell separation by FACS or MACS columns.
• Proven experience in executing cell proliferation assays.
• Ability to perform qPCR assays, prepare samples for transcriptomic analysis, and other molecular biology assays.
• Experience in parasitology or characterizing apoptotic pathways is an added advantage.
• Prior experience in performing luciferase reporter assays is a plus.
• Experience with CRISPR-Cas genome editing in mammalian cells is an advantage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the guidance of the technical lead, support the design, development, and implementation of field studies, including the selection of appropriate epidemiological methods for collecting field and laboratory data.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training materials to farmers and animal health practitioners.
• Prepare research ethics applications, data-sharing agreements, and progress reports.
• Contribute to the analysis of research data, interpretation of results, and preparation of reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Represent ILRI in daily interactions with project partners and maintain good relations with study participants, local authorities, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Liaise regularly with government officials and project partners.
• Disseminate research findings at scientific meetings and conferences.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned

Requirements

• A Bachelors degree in veterinary science or agricultural economics.
• Minimum of three years' work experience in field-based projects
• Some experience in field epidemiology and collection of epidemiological data
• Familiarity with platforms such as ODK/KoboToolbox is desirable
• Excellent organizational, analytic, and interpretive skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Good interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills, especially to diverse audiences and targets.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and foster teamwork.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and to take initiatives.
• Willingness to spend extended time in the field and periods outside Nairobi.

Key Responsibilities

• Defining and implementing efficient phenotyping tools for GHG   through direct and indirect approaches
• Design efficient genotyping schemes   both GWAS to unravel genomic regions for GHG and their ration integration in the implementation of related breeding programms
• Understand   current work on Livestock genetics, implement new analytical approaches accounting for crossbreeding effects at both phenotypic and genetic level
• Enlarge portfolio of research to incorporate resilience and increase adaptive capacity of livestock given climate change
• Explore areas of synergy with the Mazingira center and  feed resource  group

Requirements

• PhD in animal genetics and genomics 
• 5 + years in genetic models, genomics and working with large data and 5+ years professional experience post PhD in related topics.
• Experience working on and with teams whose focus are on Livestock breeding programs for low and Medium tropical countries.
• A significant record of achievement in science, evidenced by high quality publications, leadership of projects and teams, success in fund raising.
• Demonstrated experience of research for development applied to the genetics and genomics in Africa
• Good computing skills and experience with variety of software for animal genetics and genomics
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply these in research and practical contexts.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply these in research and practical contexts.
• Proficiency in French would be desirable.

Responsibilities

Specific Duties include but are not limited to:

• Specialized research support for planning, coordination and implementation of research activities
• Conduct specialized research support for projects such as collecting, management and /or advanced analysis of research information with general guidance and supervision
• Specialized support for projects in collection, management and analysis of household and agricultural data (e.g. program survey tools, recruit and assist in the training of data collection staff, organize survey logistics, monitor quality of incoming data in real-time)
• Prepare data for analysis; build large datasets from multiple sources
• Analyze data using advanced econometric methods
• Contributes to proposal development and lead writing of project reports and outputs of small-scale activities
• Spearheads project reports writing and delivery of project outputs
• Leading the planning, coordination and implementation of project activities for small-scale research projects
• Assist in capacity building of stakeholders
• Coordinate, plan, implement project activities and support outreach activities
• Manage budget resources for implementation of project activities
• Create relationships, interact with and capacity build stakeholders
• Contribute to proposal development, technical inputs for projects, products, techniques, practices and methodologies
• Other duties as assigned

Requirement

• Master’s degree in economics, Agricultural Economics, Statistics or closely related fields plus five years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of microeconomic theory and applied quantitative econometric methods
• Excellent knowledge of STATA
• Experience with other software packages such as R, Python, SurveyCTO
• Willingness and openness to learn and “think out of the box” 
• Excellent analytical mind that can interpret data and use it convincingly
• Makes decisions based on established research guidelines, considering different factors and possible outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and to work in a team-oriented multi-cultural environment
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task as needed, consistently meet deadlines and manage time well
• Broad and specialized knowledge of econometric methods, techniques and processes
• Experience supervising small teams, Decision-making experience for teams supervised
• Demonstrated professional level of attention to detail and accuracy of work
• Willingness to travel
• Previous experience with causal impact evaluations and experience with primary household survey data collection
• Familiarity with the literature on agricultural development, youth, nutrition and social protection
• Experience of coordination, project and event management would be a plus

About the Health Program

This program focuses on the health and welfare of farmed livestock, people, and their shared environment through better control of animal and agriculture-associated health constraints, and increase supply of safe, healthy, animal source foods for better nutrition for people.  It includes two areas. The first one is animal health management that includes animal health technologies (vaccine and diagnostics development) and livestock population (herd and farm health management) to ensure healthy animals. The second area addresses the health challenges at the interface of animals, people and the environment including zoonoses, AMR, food safety across livestock and wildlife systems using a One Health approach.

Responsibilities

Science and Program Leadership

• Provide scientific and strategic leadership of the program and develop the program strategy in line with ILRI’s Strategy and CGIAR Research Programs strategies. 
• Lead complex research and provide outstanding technical expertise as well as innovative and creative science
• Stay up to date on scientific and technological advances, supervise research and analysis across a range of disciplines, topics, and fields to inform the development of new schemes/products and initiatives to be designed and managed within his/her program
• Lead the collaboration and partnership efforts of the program and support teams to network and obtain positive results in partnerships with national, regional, and international institutions in research, extension, development, and public, private, and civil society
• Ably represent ILRI in various local and international forums, meetings, and visits, which require liaison, collaborations, and negotiations with current and potential partners, which include institutions, funders, government agencies, science advocacy groups, local and global meetings, other CGIAR centers, etc.
• Lead and oversee resource mobilization efforts to support research and capacity development in line with the program and ILRI strategies. Lead development of proposals to raise resources to support new research addressing the program’s target outcomes.  Coordinate budget preparation and its execution
• Lead and facilitate the wide publication, dissemination, and communication of research findings

Team Leadership

• Lead a group of (senior) scientists, as well as post-docs and graduate students, support staff, and administrators, and create a culture of collaboration and transparent communication
• Responsible for the implementation of all programmatic and platform activities, ensuring that performance schedules are observed and outputs are completed and delivered according to expectations and within budget.
• Provide regular reports to the Institutional Leadership Team (ILT) and ILRI board in line with the business’s Critical Success Factors to facilitate analysis and reporting of programmatic performance against plans and budgets, as well as strategic objectives
• Lead and manage the Program team, maximizing effectiveness and efficiency by ensuring the implementation of work plans and program strategy, ensuring adequate staffing levels. Ensure adequate staff training, development, performance management, and routine supervision to maximize efficient productivity
• Provide technical expertise to the team, motivate and coach the team towards delivery of set goals and objectives
• Foster a performance culture to encourage learning, innovation, and continuous improvement; ensure appropriate training and capacity-building activities for program staff members to support high quality programs implementation
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in biomedical sciences, health sciences, public health, epidemiology, or related fields of science and innovation expertise
• Minimum of 12 years’ experience post PhD; working in public or private sector research management at senior level
• A significant track record in research, grant writing and reviewing and fundraising
• Sound experience in research capacity strengthening
• Knowledge and thorough understanding of science, innovation and program design and planning
• Proven experience in successfully developing, leading, and supervising complex initiatives and high performing teams
• Proven ability to develop and manage program / platform budgets and timelines
• Proven experience in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, networking, partnership building and relationship management at a senior level

Desirable:

• A good understanding of current international, national and pan-African issues in research priorities and pan-African agenda and how they can be addressed through best metrics of accountable management
• Sound knowledge of research processes in a similar environment - nationally and internationally