The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is a pan-African Centre of excellence in research for development and capacity building in insect science and its applications. The Centre’s mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food and nutritional security, and improve the overall health status of people of the tropics. icipe achieves this goal by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods while preserving the natural resource base. Since its establishment in 1970, icipe has become a significant contributor to science and innovation required to meet the health and food security challenges of sub-Saharan Africa. The Centre has achieved this status by developing alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management technologies and products that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and affordable to resourcelimited rural and urban communities. icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has operations in more than 40 African countries as well as thriving partnerships with universities and research organizations across the world. Employing over 500 international and national staff, icipe also has approximately 150 graduate students who contribute annually to the Centre’s research portfolio. For additional information, visit: www.icipe.org
icipe seeks to recruit a Research Assistant II in the Human Health Theme (HHT). The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville campus. This is a two-year contract, renewable subject to continued position needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member. This is a nationally recruited position. A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right candidate. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Overall purpose of the job
To assist and support the team in experiments in the symbiovector project related to:
- Insectary maintenance of isofemale Anopheles mosquito lines.
- Designing bioassays to measure Microsporidia MB transmission rates and determine transmission mechanisms.
- Support molecular and microscopy screening of Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium in field-collected and experimental mosquitoes.
Specific Duties
- Conduct DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, to screen for Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium in field-collected and experimental mosquitoes and measure gene expression.
- Dispense and rear Microsporidia MB infected and uninfected mosquitoes.
- Perform microscopical staining to localize Microsporidia MB.
- Set up experiments, collect, record, organize, and analyze data to determine Microsporidia MB transmission rates.
- Record, compile, and maintain Symbiovector sample inventories.
- Support processing PCR products for sequencing to identify Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium.
- Determine the incidence, prevalence, and impacts of Microsporidia MB on mosquito vector species.
Requirements/Qualifications
- Diploma in Biomedical Science and Technology.
- 1 Year experience in a similar role.
Other requirements
- Basic knowledge of molecular techniques.
- Basic work experience in Microscopy.
- Basic practical experience in Mosquito dissection.
- Basic Mosquito rearing techniques.
- He/she will be expected to make decisions for their own work or section.
Reporting
- This position reports to the Senior Scientist Human Health Theme.
