icipe — African Insect Science for Food and Health is an
intergovernmental organisation funded by governmental aid agencies, UN
organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in
environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improving
health and agricultural productivity in the tropics.
icipe wishes to urgently recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Thrips Bioecology and Management in the Thrips IPM Programme.
A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right
candidate.
He/she would be expected to be among a team conducting complementary management studies that incorporate fungal entomopathogens, habitat management, bait-based technology, and use of soft pesticide in an integrated system to manage thrips on grain legumes and vegetables.
He/she would be expected to be among a team conducting complementary management studies that incorporate fungal entomopathogens, habitat management, bait-based technology, and use of soft pesticide in an integrated system to manage thrips on grain legumes and vegetables.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to closely
interact with globally renowned scientists in thrips research, and develop
proposals and build capacity in project management.
Overall purpose of the job
To undertake research pertaining to thrips behaviour, ecology and semiochemicals in support of the development of novel thrips management strategies on grain legumes and vegetables.
Responsibilities
Overall duties:
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Overall purpose of the job
To undertake research pertaining to thrips behaviour, ecology and semiochemicals in support of the development of novel thrips management strategies on grain legumes and vegetables.
Responsibilities
Overall duties:
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Conduct
a balanced upstream and applied research programme targeted towards field
bioecological research on bean flower thrips; and
- Identify
and develop new aggregation pheromones from blends of thrips headspace
- Volatiles
for use in “attract and kill” strategy in combination with entomopathogens
and soft pesticides.
Specific duties:
The successful candidate will:
The successful candidate will:
- Study
bean flower thrips dynamics and aggregation behaviour under different
grain legume cropping systems/seasons.
- Characterise
semiochemicals in headspace volatile collections from male thrips
aggregations.
- Conduct
bean flower thrips behavioural assays to evaluate thrips aggregation
response to potential aggregation pheromone analogues.
- Conduct
screen house/field experiments to assess aggregation efficacy of promising
aggregation pheromone analogues.
- Evaluate
the compatibility of the pheromone analogues with other management
components.
Knowledge required for performing the job
- Ability
to design and undertake both laboratory and field experiments.
- Proficiency
in use of statistical tools, especially R and other related statistical
software.
- Prior
experience in thrips ecology, management and semiochemical research will
be preferred.
Disposition
- Ability
to work in a multi-cultural environment with minimal supervision.
- Eagerness
to learn new techniques and publish research outcomes in peer-reviewed
journals.
- Good
communication skills.
- Ability
to mentor technical staff and students and demonstrate leadership skills.
Requirements/Qualifications
- PhD
in entomology/crop protection and related fields with emphasis on thrips
research from a recognised university within the last two years.
- Track
record of peer-reviewed publications and proposal development.
Candidates from Africa and females possessing the
above-mentioned qualifications are especially invited to apply.
Applications will be accepted up to 19 September 2012.
Applications will be accepted up to 19 September 2012.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Applications with detailed résumés including current salary
details, a one page statement of research interest; names and addresses of
three referees (with daytime telephone numbers), and e-mail address should be
sent to:
icipehr@icipe.org
The Human Resources Department,
icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health
P.O Box 30772-00100
Nairobi
Kenya
icipe is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
icipehr@icipe.org
The Human Resources Department,
icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health
P.O Box 30772-00100
Nairobi
Kenya
icipe is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.