Closing date: Friday, 20 March 2015
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (Ref. No. IRS/93/022015)
RESEARCH SCIENTIST – HONEYBEE PATHOLOGY AND COLONY MANAGEMENT
icipe—the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology—is an international research organisation focused on African insect science for food and health. Its mission is to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world. icipe has over 450 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia, and projects in a number of countries across Africa.
icipe wishes to urgently recruit a suitable person to fill the position of RESEARCH SCIENTIST – HONEYBEE PATHOLOGY AND COLONY MANAGEMENT in the Environmental Health Division/Commercial Insects Programme. The position is tenable in Nairobi, Kenya with travel to the Islands of Africa in the Western Indian Ocean. This is an international position. The appointment will be for two years (including a 6 months probation period), with a possibility of extension of the first contract. A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right candidate. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.
First African reference laboratory for bee health
icipe is home of the first African reference laboratory for bee health launched in 2014, which forms the central hub in an Africa-wide network of laboratories dedicated to research and development to support the health of these important insects in Africa. The purpose-built laboratory contains state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for undertaking research and training in all aspects of bee health. The successful applicant will join our growing team and be responsible for the two-phase 4-year Bee Health Island Nations project funded by IFAD. Each phase is approved for USD 1.5 million. The second phase is subject to approval by the IFAD external mid term reviewers and the IFAD Board.
Living in Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million and plentiful supermarkets, malls, bars and restaurants as well as many parks and open spaces. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are largely warm, welcoming and forgiving of visitors.
Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres and several UN agencies. icipe employs a number of international staff. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate and settle in the city.
Overall purpose of the job:
To investigate and identify diseases and pests of honeybees in four Indian Ocean Islands in Africa (Seychelles, Comoros, Rodriguez and Madagascar), and develop control measures/improve honey productivity for food security.
Key responsibilities
- Conduct surveys in four Indian Ocean Islands in Africa and identify honeybee pests’ and disease dynamics in honeybee races found on each island.
- Study infestation of hives by pests and disease transmission in bees.
- Develop non-chemical control measures, and identify risk factors at colony and landscape levels.
- Facilitate the protection and preservation of beekeeping industries from bee diseases and pests, through training and capacity building in colony management, queen rearing, use of biopesticides, and packaging of the hive products as well as certification and marketplace development.
Knowledge and skills required for performing the job
- Knowledge of bee pests’ and diseases surveillance procedures, and queen bee rearing techniques.
- Basic knowledge of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in the field of apiculture.
- Ability to undertake statistical interpretation of results.
- Experience in the development and application of disease detection and surveillance methodologies.
- Previous experience in developing and applying novel, non-chemical disease control and prevention strategies.
- Ability to undertake independent research, and design and run training programmes in colony management.
- Maintain an active research portfolio including publishing in peer reviewed international journals.
- Develop and maintain effective collaborations with internal and external research partners.
- Knowledge of French is an added advantage.
Minimum qualifications required
- PhD degree in entomology with emphasis on bee research from a recognised university within the last five years.
Minimum experience required
- Up to five years experience in surveillance of bee diseases and pests, colony management and queen bee rearing.
- Experience with laboratory diagnostics of bee diseases and pests.
- Proven expertise in bee behavioural research.
- Proven track record of having worked in a research and/or regulatory setting for an apiary management and inspection programme.
- Track record of publications and report writing.
Other desirable attributes
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and to maintain relationships over significant distances.
- Ability to interact effectively with communities during fieldwork in the Indian Ocean Island Nations.
- Ability to communicate effectively and to reason independently.
- Ability to mentor technical staff and students.
Reporting
This position reports to the Programme Leader, Commercial Insects Programme.
The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.
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