Research Assistant II

  • Full Time
  • Nairobi

Website icipe – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

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. Its mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food and nutritional security and improve the overall heal… read moreth status of peoples of the tropics. It does so 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 are affordable to resource-limited 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 to its research portfolio annually

Overall Purpose of the Job

The successful candidate will support implementation activities under workstream 1, the semiochemical sub-component, contributing towards the optimisation and validation of existing semiochemicals and traps, development of new semiochemicals for RPW management, and the mapping, monitoring and management of insecticide resistance.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

Support standard operating procedures (SOPs) and methods development in pesticide residue analysis, volatile and essential oil compound profiling, trace metal detection, and food safety testing for palms, their weevil pests and related substrates.
Collect and analyse essential oils, volatile organic compounds and pesticide residues from palm species, palm weevils, and related substrates using GC, GC-MS, LC-MS-QTOF. 
Assist in conducting experiments and collecting accurate, and reliable data to support research activities on palm pests, and advance project goals.
Contribute to the drafting of manuscripts, reports and other technical publications.

Requirements/ qualifications

Diploma in Agronomy, Natural Resources, Organic Chemistry or a related field from a recognised university.
At least 6 months in experimental design, data collection, lab and field bioassay setup and conduction.
At least 2 years in undertaking routine chemical analysis a relevant institution.

Apply Through:

recruit.icipe.org

To apply for this job please visit recruit.icipe.org.