ICIPE Postdoctoral Fellowship – Field Entomology/ Agronomy/ Climate Change

African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe) seeks to recruit a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) with major in Field Entomology/ Agronomy/ Climate Change with experience in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies. The PDF will work in icipe’s Push-Pull Programme in Plant Health Division on a 3 year European Union funded project on Adaptation of Push-Pull Technology to Climate Change (ADOPT).

The ADOPT Project aims at identifying new companion plants adaptable to increasingly dry and hot climatic conditions arising from climate change as components of the technology for resource poor cereal-livestock farmers in drier agro-ecologies in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Attributes of these plants will include drought tolerance, right chemistry for weed and insect pest control, desirable agronomic traits to address soil health issues in addition to other ecological services and economic benefits, including use as fodder.

Other components of the project include establishment of seed production and distribution systems for the new companion plants, technology validation and dissemination in the target areas, and establishment of linkages with regional and continental platforms for wide scale technology implementation.

Candidates should have relevant research experience of working in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies and should have published at least three scientific peer-reviewed papers in related fields in high impact journals. The candidate should also present a clear indication that he/she is a good team player, with an ability to fit within a network of stakeholders.

The position is based at the icipe Thomas Odhiambo campus in Mbita on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya but the PDF will be traveling to research areas in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Requirements
  • Possession of a PhD degree in Field Entomology/ Agronomy/ related fields obtained from a recognized University within the last three years.
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills for effective interactions, research and dissemination of programme information.
  • The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with excellent interpersonal, management and organizational skills.
  • Experience in conducting field work in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies.
  • Experience with screening plants for drought tolerance.
  • Experience with weed management, particularly allelopathy
  • Experience with soil studies, including soil health and its physicochemical properties
  • Ability to communicate effectively and to reason independently.
  • Ability to learn new techniques and mentor students.
  • Ability to interact effectively with communities during field work.
  • A track record of publications and report writing.
Benefits, including a competitive international compensation package, will be offered to the successful candidate.

Applications will be accepted up to 28 February, 2011. Only applications of short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

Please send an application with a detailed CV and names and addresses of 3 referees including e-mail addresses, fax numbers, and remuneration package to hr@icipe.org and to Project Coordinator Dr Zeyaur Khan ( zkhan@icipe.org ).

or:

The Human Resources Department
icipe—African Insect Science for Food and Health
P.O. Box 30772-00100
Nairobi
Kenya

icipe is an Equal Opportunity Employer

You can also visit www.kenyanvacancies.com for more jobs