Scientist, Insect for Food and Feed Programme (INSEFF)

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Ref. No. IRS/246/062018

SCIENTIST, INSECT FOR FOOD AND FEED PROGRAMME (INSEFF)

icipe—International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology—is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences. Employing more than 500 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya.  icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity. The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe. In addition, more than 100 graduate students and a number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually. For more information visit: www. icipe.org

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2013–2020 http://www.icipe.org/images/stories/pdf/about_ us/icipe_Vision_and_Strategy_2013-2020.pdf

A competitive and generous compensation package that includes comprehensive health and life insurance cover (all payable in US Dollars) will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year, and duty-free privileges. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate and settle in Nairobi. Qualified candidates from Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.
icipe seeks to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Scientist in the Insect for Food, Feed and Other Uses (INSEFF) Programme. The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville Campus and is available to commence immediately. This is a three-year contract, with a possibility of extension after completing a six-month probation period of the first contract, and involves travel to project action sites and target countries.

Living in Nairobi and Mbita, Kenya

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, and hosts all the urban and social amenities and offers a comfortable, convenient and pleasurable life. A wide variety of excellent international schools and well-equipped medical facilities are open 24/7 in Nairobi. The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers. Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres and several UN agencies. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus (ITOC) is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, with excellent housing facilities for staff and students. The Campus sits on 24.5 hectares of land, 40% of which consists of experimental fields and buildings with landscaped gardens. ITOC’s research structures include state-of-the-art laboratories and offices, as well as insect and animal rearing facilities. The Campus also hosts St. Jude’s Clinic, a kindergarten, primary school, and the Mbita Guest House.

Overall purpose of the job

Insects are nutritious and contain high-value amino acids, minerals, and vitamins that could improve both conventional foods and feeds with limited use of land, water, and greenhouse emissions. icipe established the Insect for Food, Feed and Other Uses Programme (INSEFF) to harness the potential of insects through R&D initiatives. The initiatives focus on cataloguing edible insects, enhancing awareness, understanding perceptions and willingness to pay for insect-based products, adapting indigenous knowledge, mass production, wild harvesting, nutritional profiling, processing, marketing, post-harvest handling, safety and regulations. The aim is to contribute to icipe’s overall mission (which is to alleviate poverty), by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment, and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

1. Develop and contribute to R&D activities related to the use of insects as food and feed (including but not limited to cataloguing of insects that could be used for food and feed, mass rearing and harvesting techniques, optimisation and scaling of production systems, nutritional analysis, product formulation, engagement with private sector and product commercialisation);
2. Collaborate with experts to address post-harvest handling and processing, food safety, socioeconomics and marketing, and policy research to guide the development of standards and legislation for use of insects as food and feed;
3. Work in collaboration with colleagues in the thematic area where the programme is based and with the wider icipe research teams, to facilitate research and capacity building activities across the Centre;
4. Promote and establish collaborative linkages with national, regional, and international institutions in the field of insects for food and feed;
5. Manage, supervise and motivate programme staff and students, to ensure innovation and the practice of good science that results in high-quality publications.

Requirements/Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences with a major in arthropods or agriculture.
• Completion of PhD with 6 years post-PhD experience, gained at a research organisation or university.
• Excellent publication track record.
• Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and undergraduate students.
• Excellent communication skills.

Core Competencies

• Proven track record in an area of insect research and development related to insect for food and feed as demonstrated by publication record.
• History of resource mobilisation and securing external support for a portfolio of research and development activities.
• Appropriate skills in research governance and project management (including experience in financial accountability).

Other desirable attributes

• Ability to create and foster an innovative work environment, team building to deliver on agreed goals.
• High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation.

Reporting

This position reports to the Head, Plant Health Theme.

The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted up to 11th July 2018.  Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter, (b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers), and (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/abilities and skills.

Candidates are required to apply online through APPLY button below!

icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.