| Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellowship Announcement |
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Nairobi, Kenya, for scientists and students from African national research institutes and universities. The BecA-ILRI Hub provides a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building opportunities to eastern and central Africa and beyond. The Hub increases access to affordable, world-class research facilities, while creating and strengthening human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa. These activities focus on addressing key constraints in African agriculture. We seek applicants who have exceptional ideas for short-term research projects (3-6 months) that can be carried out at the BecA-ILRI Hub. Projects must be related to food and nutritional security, food safety or animal health issues. Scientists who are conducting research in the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply, as are women candidates: • African swine fever (ASF) epidemiology and control • Improved vaccines and diagnosis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) • Development of vaccines for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) • Improved control strategies for other animal diseases • Harnessing genetic diversity for conservation, resistance to disease and improving productivity of livestock, particularly of goats, cavies (guinea pigs) and chickens (focusing on African indigenous breeds) • Research on orphan (under-studied) crops including: amaranth, African wild mushrooms, enset and other under- researched important African crops • Genetic diversity studies for improving productivity of other important crops • Mycotoxins: addressing aflatoxin and other mycotoxin contamination of maize and other foods • Plant transformation to address food insecurity in Africa • Tissue culture and virus indexing for production of virus-free planting materials in Africa • Rapid diagnosis of crop and livestock disease: adopting and adapting existing diagnostics for use in Africa • Plant ‘viromics’: viral screening and pathogen discovery in plants for improving and developing diagnostic tools • Metagenomics for microbial diversity • Bioinformatics • Other innovative ideas that could potentially lead to major breakthroughs. Applicant requirements • A national of one of the BecA-ILRI Hub countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. • Affiliated with a national agricultural research program or university in the BecA-ILRI Hub region • Currently engaged in agricultural research • MSc or PhD in agricultural biosciences • Good working knowledge of written and spoken English • Completed online application form and uploaded CV and research project concept note. CLICK HERE to apply Funding for travel, accommodation, medical insurance, and some research expenses at the Hub will be provided. Please note that funding for research at the applicant’s home institute or field work is not provided under the ABCF Fellowship programme. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites:        |
