Research Technician- Biotech

Vacancy Number: RT/BIOTECH/10/12
Department: Biotechnology
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 1-year contract renewable

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

ILRI seeks to recruit a Research Technician- Biotechnology to provide expert and specialised techniques in biological, molecular and immunological research towards development of livestock vaccines

Responsibilities:-

• Production of recombinant Theileria parva gene constructs
• Molecular gene cloning and screening for the recombinants
• Nucleic acids manipulations and basic analysis.
• Nucleic acids and protein analysis techniques (e.g.: gel electrophoresis, western and dot blots)
• Data analysis and report writing to present to scientists for seminars, conferences and publications and being an author or a co-author of scientific publications.
• Bacterial and tissue cultures: maintenance and storage of cell lines and glycerol stocks.
• Recombinant proteins expression and purification in bacteria and/or other systems.
• Training of new employees, students and other researchers on various techniques within areas of expertise and learn more skills in the collaborating laboratories
• Use, record keeping and maintenance of complex scientific equipment/machines, reagents used in the laboratories

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science degree or HND (Higher National Diploma), plus 4-5 years experience
• Have good practical skills in Molecular biology and microbiology
• Have good knowledge of statistics and data analysis
• Excellent communication skills; written and verbal communication in English including web based communications;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work within a multicultural environment
• Proficient in use of MS office packages

Terms of Appointment: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus. It is open to Kenyan nationals only.  The position is on a 1-year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Job level and salary: This position is job level 2B with a starting gross salary of KES 75,833 per month. The benefits package includes pension, medical and other insurances for ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff.

Location: The position will be based at the ILRI campus Nairobi, Kenya.

Applicants should send a cover letter and CV combined as one document addressed the Human Resources Director, explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience by 30 November 2012.  Log on to:  http://www.myjobsinkenya.com/ilri_jobs. The position title and reference number REF: RT/BIOTECH/11/2012 should be clearly marked on the subject line. Only online applications will be considered, and only short listed candidates will be contacted.