ILRI MSc Graduate Fellowship: Cross-sectional study of abortions in dairy cattle in Nandi County

•  Nairobi, Kenya
•  Full-time
•  CapDev

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an MSc graduate fellow to work on Cross-sectional study of abortions in dairy cattle in Nandi County. The successful fellow will be hosted by the Livestock Genetics program at ILRI.                                                                                                   

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 centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices in East, South and Southern Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org   

The Livestock Genetics program’s approach is to identify genetic/breeding bottlenecks limiting the benefits of livestock for small-scale farmers. The program works with partners to apply established approaches to neglected systems (for example improved artificial insemination delivery), while simultaneously seeking innovative solutions which can accelerate (or skip) traditional approaches—for example use of genome editing. https://www.ilri.org/research/programs/livestock-genetics

About the position

The dairy industry is an emerging sector of the livestock industry in many lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) particularly in Africa. Structured dairy cattle breeding programs, such as the African Dairy Genetic Gains (ADGG) project, are currently being implemented for improved performance and production. The ADGG program aims to assist farmers to improve cow management, improve animal and herd productivity as well as increasing income for smallholder dairy farmers.

A challenge to productivity in dairy farming is abortion or early calf death. Previous work has indicated that the incidence of abortion may be as high as 10%. Pathogens that cause abortion may also be zoonoses placing the livestock workers at risk. Abortion causing pathogens include Brucella, Neospora, Toxoplasma gondii, Rift Valley fever virus, Leptospira and Coxiella burnetii.

In order to address this major challenge for dairy producers and to reduce both the direct losses from mortality and retarded growth as well as the indirect loss of genetic potential, the research proposes to conduct a longitudinal study of abortion in cows. This will generate the disease and infection phenotypes that can then be linked to the ADGG genotypes to deliver genomic tools to develop resistance/tolerance to tropical diseases.

The successful MSc fellow will conduct the baseline cross-sectional study to the determine the prevalence of abortion causing pathogens in a population of dairy cattle in Nandi County, Kenya.

Responsibilities of the fellow:

1. Recruitment of dairy farmers to participate in the baseline cross-sectional study.
2. Collect survey data using ODK.
3. Collect samples from cattle.
4. Run serological and molecular tests for pathogens such as Brucella, Leptospira and BVD.
5. Conduct statistical analysis of data.
6. Preparation of research proposal and thesis for purposes of academic defense.

Minimum requirements

The ideal candidate should:

1. Hold a Bachelor of Science preferably in veterinary science, biomedical science or biotechnology
2. Be enrolled in Master of Science program in a recognized university preferably in epidemiology or public health.
3. Possess field experience recruiting participants, data collection, working in multidisciplinary teams
4. Have working experience using ODK.
5. Demonstrated laboratory experience with PCR and undertaking serology analysis specifically ELISA.

6. Location: ILRI – Kenya

   Duration: 6-months

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

   Applications should  be sent to the Director of People and Organizational Development, ILRI by clicking on the tab “APPLY NOW” on or before 7th July 2023. The position title and reference number REF: GF/LG /06/2023 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.

   To find out more about ILRI visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org