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JOB DESCRIPTION  

AAKTP Associate – Pest management and Research Associate

Position/ Job Title: AAKTP Associate – Pest management and Research Associate

 

Post Number/Job Reference Number: EU/AAKTPPROJECT/2020/01

AAKTP EcoFix(K) Ltd

 

Application closing date/deadline: 1st Jan 2021

 

Department:     Department of Chemistry, Egerton University,

P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya

 

Location, Nanyuki, Kenya

 

Salary: Circa KES 150,000 per month Consolidated

 

Hours: Full time – (approx. 37 hours a week)

Tenure: Two years of a fixed-term contract.

Accountable to:  KTP Knowledge Base Supervisor at Egerton and Greenwich (UK) universities

 

Project Background and Company Information

The Egerton University in partnership with the University of Greenwich, UK, has gained funding for a 2-year project with Eco Fuels Kenya (now EcoFix(K) Ltd) in Nayuki, Kenya. The project objective is to design and develop plant-based natural product innovations using Croton seed oil and the by-products from its extraction for sustainable, organic agriculture in Kenya that reduces farmer reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides and increases revenue for the farmers and the KTP business partner. This project is funded and supported by the UK Government though its African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AAKTP) scheme.

EcoFix(K) Ltd (EFK) is the world’s first and only croton nut processing company that is committed to sustainable agribusiness development. EFK sources Croton megalocarpus nuts from 6000 smallholder farmers - 85% of whom are women and youths. EFK then processes these nuts through a zero-waste manufacturing process into croton nut oil, croton seedcake and various organic croton fertilizers and crop boosting products. Since 2012, EFK has been selling these croton products to other local Kenyan SMEs as well as back into smallholder farmer communities.

Qualifications and Skills Required

The Associate will require a post-graduate qualification (masters or PhD level degree) in an appropriate subject from natural products, plant chemistry, and chemical ecology of pest management. They will ideally also have experience of undertaking biological studies of insects under laboratory and field experimentation although this will be provided as training from the academic partners as required.

The Associate will need to provide evidence of independent working and be motivated by the concepts of biorational horticulture and the desire to develop commercial products for a greener economy.

They will need to work as part of an enterprise team

  • Require an understanding of biorational agriculture
  • Have experience of applying relevant statistical analysis to biological research data
  • The Associate will be:
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently
  • Able to work as part of a team
  • Able to follow instructions and deliver targets through to completion
  • Good at communicating complex ideas to businesses and farmers
  • Willing to travel to the field as needed for fieldwork with farmers

 

The Role

Egerton University in partnership with EFK are seeking applications from a dynamic and highly motivated scientist to develop innovate plant based biorational pest control technologies from Croton seed oil.  Employed by Egerton University you will be based at and work with EcoFix(K) in Nanyuki, Kenya and supported by a UK based teams of specialists in integrated pest management who have many years’ experience developing technologies for sustainable food production in partnership with African universities and business.  Some work will require state-of-the-art chemical analysis only available at the UK academic partners and your role will require up to 2 visits to the UK (for at least one month per visit).  Delivery of the research activities requires a diverse scientific knowledge from analytical chemistry to biological assessments of extracts and field evaluation and will present challenges for the Associate to acquire this knowledge in two years. However, UK and Kenya KB have the required expertise and will provide weekly academic support to the Associate in all these areas. Commercial needs demand a focus on dividends so the Associate will need to strike the right balance between knowledge acquisition and EFK’s need to profit from this investment.

Principle duties and responsibilities

The general responsibility of the KTP Associate is to deliver the project following the requirement of the KTP program and work plan.

You will have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings

The tasks include:

  • Analysis of biologically active plant materials to identify bioactive components (in UK).
  • Biological assays of plant materials on target pest insects in laboratory and field experiments,
  • Work with EFK Director of Operations on product development and modification
  • Collaborate with company staff on other relevant/on-going research projects
  • Writing reports for Innovate UK and publication where possible.
  • Develop a market-ready biorational pest control product compliant with the regulatory standards (KEBS & PCPB).

The Associate must, at all time, take responsibility for their health and safety and comply with rules and guidance relating to health and safety matters. They shall take any other reasonable duties, that fall under the scope of the project work plan. They should work as part of team and organise the work to ensure it is completed within the agreed timeframe.

 

Benefits

  1. Additional training budget for personal training and development @ 10% of time from project work mentored and supported by partners.
  2. Excellent opportunity to work with national and international academic researchers.
  3. Project Managing a commercial research and development project from start to finish

 

For Applying for this position please send your full CV and a Cover Letter to the following contacts, before the closing date (1/1/2021):

 

Prof. Josiah Ouma Omolo, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy to: Dr Alice Njue, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Standard Notification

 

This job description is indicative, not prescriptive, and the balance of duties will be in accordance with the contract of employment. These guidelines are provided to assist you in the performance of your contract. The Associate is employed by Egerton University for the duration of the project. The university is a dynamic organisation; therefore, changes may be required from time to time. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post-holder. The principle duties and responsibilities and Role description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks performed. Other associated technical tasks are likely to be performed as directed by the line manager.

 

It is accepted that individual staff will have a specialist skills and knowledge base in relation to the role they have been appointed to. In addition to this, Egerton University expects that all staff will conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times and have particular regard for their responsibilities under Egerton University's Equalities, Financial, Human Resources and Health and Safety policies and procedure.                                                          


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