ILRI-Research Fellowship: Vaccines Biosciences

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research fellow who will learn and assist in laboratory techniques related to ruminant immunology and diagnosis of infectious diseases. The fellowship will start earliest in September 2015 and last for 6 months. The fellow will be part of a research team that comprises scientists, PhD students and research technicians.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org. CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

ILRI Research Project:  Ruminant immunology and diagnosis of infectious diseases

The Vaccine Biosciences group, hosted by the ILRI Animal Health theme, focuses on African Swine fever (ASF), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and East Coast fever (ECF).  The outputs include new or improved vaccines, diagnostic assays and biosecurity protocols that aim to increase livestock productivity in the targeted value chains in particular and to control the spread of the diseases in general.

Roles and responsibilities

• The fellow will get familiarized with laboratory techniques such as isolation of mononuclear cells.
• Set up and read out of proliferation assays.
•  Cloning.
• Expression of recombinant proteins.
• Set up of various diagnostic methods.

Essential Skills and Qualifications will include:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field with 3 years of experience. A PhD will be an advantage, but not essential.
• Good theoretical background in immunology and molecular biology.
• A member of staff of a National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in an East African country (Tanzania,Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia,Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya).

Terms of appointment: This position will be based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus. ILRI will offer a competitive stipend of US$1,000 per month to cover living expenses in the project location(s) Medical insurance and work injury cover will also be included in the benefits package.

How to apply: 

Interested applicants should submit the following documents;

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position, what you can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience.
• The position title and reference number:  RFJJ/VB/ 07/2015 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter.
• Curriculum Vitae without photograph; please use the europass CV template athttp://europass.cedefop.europa.eu
• Certified copies of all university degree certificates.
• Certified copies of all university transcripts.
• A recommendation letter by head of department indicating that you are a currently a member of staff in the NARs. The letter should also include a confirmation that your will be study leave for the duration of fellowship.

Applications: All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal by clicking on the “Apply Now” tab above before 31 July 2015

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

Suitably qualified women and citizens of developing countries, with experience of working internationally, are particularly encouraged to apply.