Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Advertisement) at University of Nairobi

UNITID - AD/5/51/22 

Job Purpose

The Research Fellow will be expected to carry out and publish high quality original research in the fields of Virology, Molecular Biology, and Quantitative Epidemiology. He or she is expected to contribute to the wider research and other activities within the Center and the Institute including supporting graduate students taking Masters and PhD degrees and other Post-docs, contributing to teaching and public engagement activities, presenting at workshops and conferences. The successful candidate will be involved in a project on “Zoonotic Transmission of MERS-Corona virus in Kenya”. Funded through German-DFG, the project uniquely brings together experts in virology and epidemiology of zoonotic infections at the University of Nairobi, Charité University in Berlin, FAO-Kenya, University of Edinburgh, and Washington State University to address the threat to public health posed by corona viruses of animal origin. The candidate will be expected to lead scientific questions on surveillance precision, biology, and transmission dynamics of corona viruses of animal origin. In addition, the candidate will coordinate the field studies to be carried out in Northern Kenya, epidemiological and molecular biological investigations, and support graduate fellows working within the project.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct original research including design and implementation of field (including sampling of dromedaries) and health-facility based studies for detection of suspect cases
• Contribute to the preparation of research proposals and to external funding bodies based on a line of future research
• Actively contribute to wider activities within the research group by providing guidance and supervision for student projects and/or instruction of students in the use of software and analytical tools when required, assisting with teaching or public engagement activities, maintenance of the group website, representing the research group in discussion groups and committees
• Establishment and implementation of virological diagnostics (nucleic acid, antigen and
• antibody detection methods)
• Perform statistical and epidemiological analysis
• Writing scientific publications
• Training and supervision of scientists at masters and PhD level
• Day-to-day management of the project objectives and program research agreed with the
• principal investigator in line with the responsibilities above according to an agreed timetable

Qualifications

• Research PhD in Health and Medical Sciences, Epidemiology or Public Health
• Hold a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Technology or equivalent, Medical or Veterinary degree
• He or she should have experience working as a Researcher in Animal Biosciences
• Experience in Bioinformatics and Immunology
• Experience working on infectious diseases in animals and humans
• Experience in molecular biological (nucleic acid purification, PCR/qPCR) and serological methods (ELISA, Immunofluorescence assays, virus neutralization tests), cell culture
• Willingness to work under BSL-3 conditions
• Evidenced track record in writing scientific manuscripts and/or grants
• Experience in laboratory organization and optimizing process flows
• Experience working in level 2 and 3 safety laboratories is an asset
• Strong interest in epidemiological and statistical data analysis
• Ability to work independently and analytically
• Commitment and ability to work in a team
• Good knowledge of English, written and spoken
• Self-motivated

Terms of Appointment

This a position whose tenure is one (1) year contract renewable based on performance and by mutual consent. The salary is negotiable depending on the level of education and work experience. The PI will offer general orientation by providing a project plan outlining the key research goals and activities that need to be completed. From there, the Research Fellow will take responsibility for dayto-day activities but with regular meetings with the PI to update on progress and discuss the research.