Apply: PhD Graduate Fellowship: Nutrient Budgets of smallholder mixed crop-livestock farming systems in Eastern Africa (closing date: 31 August 2018)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a PhD Graduate Fellowship for the nutrient budgets of smallholder mixed crop-livestock farming systems in Eastern Africa project. Livestock systems and other agricultural production systems are known for their relatively large environmental footprint, particularly in Africa when set in relation to productivity. To achieve sustainable livestock development pathways in East Africa it is important to understand the impact of livestock on the environment (GHG emissions, soil health, water impacts) at various scales.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The Position:

This project seeks to recruit a fellow to investigate nutrient budgets of smallholder mixed crop-livestock farming systems in Easter Africa. The gained knowledge with help to prioritize good-bet livestock adaptation and mitigation options in relevant livestock systems, and helping to build capacity in decision support, planning in each of the countries covered.

ILRI Program: Sustainable Livestock Systems

Responsibilities of the fellow

• To study nutrient cycling (gains and losses of carbon and nitrogen) in smallholder farming systems in Eastern Africa;
• To measure nutrient losses and gains from individual farm components, ie manure heaps, soils, forage and crop plots etc.;
• To identify best-bet climate smart options based on the newly collected data;
• To communicate the gained findings to stakeholders (ministries, livestock extension officers, farmers);
• Write scientific papers and prepare conference/workshop presentations describing results and their implications for productivity, GHG and nutrient management;
• Develop new concepts and ideas for further research;
• Provide supervision and guidance to field support staff and research assistants;
• Data analysis
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement/participation
• Make presentations at meetings as may be required

Requirements for the ideal candidate

• MSc in Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Geography or other relevant discipline
• Experience in greenhouse gas measurement at different scales, ie. Greenhouse gas chambers, eddy covariance or similar;
• Knowledge on agricultural production systems in developing and/or developed countries
• Experience in handling of diverse datasets, data processing and statistical software such as R, SPSS, Matlab or python;
• The ability to jointly work in a multinational team of scientists and technicians from other disciplines (biogeochemistry, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, veterinary medicine etc.);
• The ability to apply necessary steps to ensure data quality assurance and data quality control;
• The ability to supervise and guide research assistants;
• Excellent communication skills

Location: ILRI, Kenya, Mazingira Centre

Duration: 3 years

Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location, medical cover, air ticket, and research expenses. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by an ILRI scientist and the university/academic supervisor.

Applications should be made to the Director, People and Organizational Development through our recruitment portal http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 31 August 2018. The position title and reference number SLS/PhD GF/02/2018 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Visit Programme Link

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