Consultant - Soil Microbiology for Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture

This is a re-opening of the vacancy. Applications submitted are still under consideration, and there is no need to re-apply.

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, "Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes. 

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Centre consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of\: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food safety and control.  

The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Section and Laboratory assist Member States in developing improved soil and water management practices for sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems, the conservation of natural resources and the effective use of external inputs through applied and adaptive research and development activities, technology transfer and capacity building



 

Main Purpose

This consultancy at the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory aims to develop a preliminary
protocol for studying the behaviour of antimicrobials in aquaculture pond sediments and assessing their safe use in
agriculture. It supports PUI project 'Integrated Strategies for Managing Antimicrobial Resistance in Western and Central
African Aquaculture'. The project addresses key challenges such as antimicrobial persistence in sediments, their
environmental risks, and implications for food safety when reused as fertilizers. It also examines microbial dynamics
and the effects of transitioning from anaerobic to aerobic conditions.
 

Scope and Expected Outcomes
The consultancy integrates isotopic tracing (e.g. Cavity Ring Down Spectrscopy analysis) with microbiological and
molecular methods (165 rRNA and PLFA) to study antibiotic degradation and microbial changes under controlled
conditions. Outcomes include an experimental framework and evidence-based guidelines for the safe agricultural reuse
of aquaculture sediments. These results will inform Member States on sustainable practices and contribute to the IAEA
project Assessment of Soil Contaminants in Agricultural Lands

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Carry out three microcosm experiments with sediments incubated with sulfonamides (including fully carbon-
  13 labelled sulfamethoxazole, SMX) using Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)and SMX extraction to
  evaluate the rate of SMX degradation.
• Incubate sediment microbial communities under controlled environmental conditions (pH, temperature,
  dissolved oxygen) to monitor microbial growth during the transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions.
• Perform 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and SIP-PLFAanalyses to compare the dominant species in
  aerobic versus anaerobic environments.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree (bachelor) in Soil Science or related field. 
• Minimum two years' experience in stable isotope approaches and specialized soil microbiological techniques.
• Experience in soil microbiological techniques and analysis, including microbial inoculation and culture
  methods, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing, DNA isolation, next-generation sequencing, and taxonomic
  profiling.
• Experience in the use of stable carbon isotope techniques to assess the fate of AMR in agricultural soils,
  including incubation experiments using Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)analysis.
• Good knowledge of oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) an asset.

Remuneration

The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 170, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.