Job Description
Vacancy: CGHR/01/250/22
Project description: Genomics of African Vectors for NMCP Management of Insecticide Resistance
(GAVENIR) project was designed to develop the capacity of African Scientists to use next-generation
sequencing (NGS) data to inform their insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies. This project
was initiated under a Grand Challenges grant, to train African scientists on proper sample collection and
preservation for NGS; provide hands-on training on NGS library prep and wet-lab procedures; provide
introductory bioinformatics training and sequence RNA libraries to investigate transcriptomic markers
of insecticide resistance. The project has recently received a follow-on grant to expand project activities
in collaboration with the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, US Centers for Disease Control and
prevention (CDC) and H3A BioNet. This project seeks to fill the following position.
Position: Assistant Principal Research Scientist - Bioinformatician, KMR 4 (1 Position)
Location: Kisumu
Duration: One (1) year with a possibility of extension
Reporting to: Principal Investigator
Job Summary:
We are looking for a motivated Bioinformatician to join our research team in advancing the use of next
generation systems of high-throughput RNA and DNA sequencing for informing malaria vector control
policy. This individual will support research scientists and students by providing data analysis support
for the teams in Kenya and Benin as they analyse RNAseq, WGS and other ‘omics data through a virtual
high-performance compute (HPC) server. The successful candidate should work well in a team
environment, exercise great attention to detail, and have keen analytical insight. This is an exciting
opportunity to be a part of a talented and dynamic team working on novel approaches for understanding
insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in Africa.
Essential Requirements:
a) A least PhD in Bioinformatics and/or Computational sciences OR a MSc degree in
Bioinformatics with at least 5 years high level experience (equivalent to a senior scientist
level).
b) Expertise in genomics, population genetics, data science, computational biology
c) Hands on experience with scripting languages such as Linux, Python, R and a strong
grounding in biological sciences
d) Familiarity with commonly used tools for variant detection (samtools, bowtie2, BWA, IGV,
ANNOVAR, GATK) and file formats (BED, VCF, FASTQ, BAM, FASTA)
e) Familiarity with commonly used and publicly available bioinformatics databases (e.g.
GenBank, Uniprot, DDBJ, Ensemble, GEO, SRA, ExAC, ESP,ClinVar, VectorBase, KEGG,
HGMD, OMIM, PubMed, UCSC)
f) Experience designing bioinformatics experiments and/or providing oversight for the design
of 'omics/bioinformatics experiments.
g) Experience working with unstructured data sources, (experience with genome assembly)
h) An understanding of genome sequencing technologies and strategies.
i) Having a familiarity with Big Data analysis including data mining, complex data
visualization.
j) Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
k) Organized, Hardworking and independent – The candidate must be able to plan and implement
their workplans within the required timelines
Desirable Attributes
a. Enthusiastic and strong interest in mosquito genomics, insecticide resistance and vector control
b. Experience with mathematical modelling and computational biology
c. Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills
d. Membership of relevant professional networks (h3A, ASBCB, EASCB, ISCB and ISMB)
e. Previous work with mosquitoes, or knowledge and ecology of mosquitoes will be an added
advantage
f. Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning skills in design of appropriate statistical analysis
of experimental data
g. Experience working with high-performance computing
h. Experience in successfully leading teams
Skills and abilities:
a) Excellent organizational capability to structure and organize tasks and set priorities logically and
effectively
b) Results driven; ability to judiciously spend resources available to achieve the most optimal
outcomes
c) Ability to build and lead strong teams and achieve projected milestones
d) Ability to identify potential problems and trouble-shoot solutions
Duties and Responsibilities:
a) Participation in capacity building on bioinformatics by guiding MSc and PhD students on the
project in both Kenya and Benin
b) In charge of reception and storage of raw sequence data from the sequencing facilities,
uploading to the high compute servers
c) Take leadership in setting up virtual classroom discussions; small group discussions; data
carpentry workshops, personalized virtual office hours with trainees on the statistical analyses
of genomic data
d) Participation in designing, review and update of the vector genomics and bioinformatics
training curriculum
e) Leadership in conceptualizing, innovating and development of new bioinformatic pipelines for
analysis of genomic data
f) Conduct bioinformatic analysis of raw sequence data to identify molecular markers associated
with insecticide resistance in malaria vectors
g) Attend conferences and workshops to disseminate research findings
h) Leadership in drafting of technical reports, manuscripts, and outcomes of the project outputs
i) Perform any other duties as assigned by the principal investigator
Applications should include the following:
1. Letter of Application (Indicate Vacancy Number)
2. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae with Telephone number and e-mail address
3. Three letters of reference with contact telephone numbers
4. Copies of Academic Certificates and Transcripts
5. KRA tax compliance certificate
6. Certificate of good conduct
Terms of Employment: 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation
period for the first 3 months.