The International Livestock Research institute (ILRI) is seeking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral molecular immunologist who will play a crucial role in a project on African Swine fever vaccine development combined with leading the development of a program on porcine immunology as it relates to antigen identification and evaluation of novel vaccines at ILRI. This will make use of the new ILRI enhanced BSL2 level experimental pig unit and adjacent modern laboratories, including virus isolation facilities at ILRI. The project is funded by the German Ministry for Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
ILRI works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centers working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.
The CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centers that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.
Key responsibilities:
- Identification of novel candidate African swine fever (ASFV) antigens based on binding of peptides to expressed porcine SLA sequences identified in collaboration with Danish collaborators. This will involve application of the output of the predictive software NetMHC Pan trained using SLA/peptide binding data to identify potential novel T cell antigens in the ASFV genome
- Evaluation of immune responses in particular T cell and macrophage activation using gamma interferon ELISPOT and more recently developed emerging technologies. Measurement of the quality of antibody responses will also be important
- Develop antigen presentation assays for assessment of T cell responses in vaccinated or naturally infected animals using immortalized autologous fibroblasts
- Manipulation of East African ASFV to create attenuated viruses that can be used for prolonged infections of pigs to enable isolation of T cells from immune animals.
- Screening of a synthetic library peptide library derived from conserved ASFV genes with T cells induced by infection of pigs with ASFV
Key qualifications and experience will include
- PhD in vaccinology/immunology (PhD must have been attained within the last 3 years);
- Record of publication in international refereed journals;
- Experience in analysis of software for analyzing molecular immunology data;
- Experience in sampling and experimental infection of livestock, with viral pathogens will be an advantage but is not essential.
Post location: This position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Duration: 24 months with a possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.
Position level: Postdoctoral fellow.
Terms of appointment: Base salary from USD 35,000 per annum tax free depending on skills and experience. ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: Medical insurance for staff and dependents, life insurance, education allowance for children, housing allowance, baggage Allowance, home leave, annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+public holidays.
Benefits and salary are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.
Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae: names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience should be included in the curriculum vitae. The position title and reference number: PD/MI/05/2014should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter.
All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com by 13 June 2014.
