Post-Doctoral Fellow – Molecular Biology / Virology

Animal Bioscience
ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia.
The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals’ alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases
ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and in 2017, an operating budget of about USD83 million. ILRI is a CGIAR research centre working for a food-secure future.
ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia
The Position: The Animal and Human Health research program in the Bioscience directorate at ILRI has an exciting position for a post-doctoral scientist in molecular biology / virology who will be a key member of a team working on the swine disease African swine fever (ASF), which is caused by the DNA virus ASFV.
The goal of the team is to develop an attenuated vaccine for the control of ASF. We seek a scientist with a solid experience in molecular biology and virology, and preferably also in vaccinology, to join a new project with partners and collaborators from the USA and Germany.
The successful candidate will be involved in developing new attenuated vaccine candidates using the CRISPR-Cas technology and synthetic biology approaches for the same. In a second funding phase (after the first 2 years), vaccine candidates will be tested for immune responses, safety and protection in animals.
Responsibilities:
To establish the CRISPR-Cas technology for gene editing of African swine fever virus and host cells
Participate in the development of a reverse genetics system for synthetic ASF viral genomes
Make stable transfected cell lines
Test vaccine candidates in vitro for growth kinetics and other traits
Design/perform animal experiments for assessing immunogenicity/safety of modified viral vaccine candidates (only phase II, dependent on further funding)
Supervision of a 6 months fellow / technician
Writing of publications
Requirements:
PhD in Biological Sciences
Track record of publications as first author (new PhD’s may not have published their work yet).
At least 3 years of relevant work experience prior attaining the PhD.
Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya
Position level: Post-doctoral level
Duration: The position is on a 2 year fixed term contract with the possibility of 2 more years subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
Benefits: ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes medical insurance, life insurance and allowances for: education, housing, home leave, and annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays