Research Assistant II at icipe - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Overall purpose of the job

To assist and support the team in experiments in the symbiovector project related to:

• Insectary maintenance of isofemale Anopheles mosquito lines.
• Designing bioassays to measure Microsporidia MB transmission rates and determine transmission mechanisms.
• Support molecular and microscopy screening of Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium in field-collected and experimental mosquitoes.

Specific Duties

• Conduct DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, to screen for Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium in field-collected and experimental mosquitoes and measure gene expression.
• Dispense and rear Microsporidia MB infected and uninfected mosquitoes.
• Perform microscopical staining to localize Microsporidia MB.
• Set up experiments, collect, record, organize, and analyze data to determine Microsporidia MB transmission rates.
• Record, compile, and maintain Symbiovector sample inventories.
• Support processing PCR products for sequencing to identify Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium.
• Determine the incidence, prevalence, and impacts of Microsporidia MB on mosquito vector species.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Diploma in Biomedical Science and Technology.
• 1 Year experience in a similar role.

Other requirements

• Basic knowledge of molecular techniques.
• Basic work experience in Microscopy.
• Basic practical experience in Mosquito dissection.
• Basic Mosquito rearing techniques.
• He/she will be expected to make decisions for their own work or section.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Senior Scientist Human Health Theme.