1,902 Postdoctoral Research Fellow jobs in Kenya

Background:
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Biotechnological Innovations for Red Palm Weevil Control.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa's most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food-secure future. Please visit for more information on IITA.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), as part of the
Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC)
- a global, multi-institutional program led by ICARDA- is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to contribute to innovative, science-driven solutions against the Red Palm Weevil (RPW). RPW
(Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)
, one of the most destructive invasive pests worldwide, poses a grave threat to date, coconut, and oil palm cultivation. Since the 1980s, it has caused catastrophic economic losses, degraded ecosystems, and undermined the livelihoods of farming communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. With its rapidspread into Sub-Saharan Africa and its adaptability to multiple palm species, RPW jeopardizes food security, biodiversity, and industries valued at over $20-30 billion globally.

This postdoctoral position offers an opportunity to advance cutting-edge biotechnological innovations, such as RNA interference (RNAi) and gene editing, that will contribute to scalable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly solutions to protect palms, rural livelihoods, and ecosystems.

Position Responsibilities
The
Post-Doctoral Fellow
will be responsible for developing and executing biotechnological strategies, including RNAi and gene editing for controlling RPW, working closely with internal research teams, external partners, and stakeholders within the C4RPWC program. The successful candidate will report to the Lead of the Biotechnology Program at IITA. The tasks will include:

• Design, conduct, and optimize laboratory and field experiments on RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest control strategies, including both direct applications (e.g., dsRNA nanoparticles, injections) and plant-expressed dsRNA systems
• Develop a transformation and gene editing system for date palm, African palm, and sugarcane
• Generate gene-edited events with enhanced resistance against RPW infestations
• Develop and validate molecular and genomic tools for monitoring efficacy, insect resistance, and environmental safety
• Collect, analyse, and interpret molecular, genetic, and ecological data related to RPW control interventions
• Conduct bioinformatic analyses of RPW genomes, transcriptomes, and gene targets relevant to RNAi and gene editing
• Collaborate with international, multi-disciplinary teams across C4RPWC partner institutions
• Provide technical guidance and training to graduate students, technicians, and national program partners in molecular entomology and biotechnology
• Contribute to building local capacity for biotechnology-based pest management in partner countries
• Support the coordination and monitoring of IITA's contributions to the RPW control program
• Prepare high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and technical briefs
• Prepare progress reports, presentations, and knowledge-sharing materials for donors, partners, and stakeholders
• Engage in outreach and science communication to demonstrate program impact on livelihoods, ecosystems, and sustainable pest management
• Explore novel delivery platforms for biotechnological control agents with emphasis on scalability and field applicability
• Coordinate the regulatory compliance and stewardship for the project
• Support the development of grant proposals to secure funding for further research in gene editing and manage research projects effectively
• Actively participate in monthly meetings, annual reviews, and planning meetings and contribute to strategic research planning
• Host visitors, donors, and collaborators, providing lab tours and discussing the project's progress
• Adhere to institutional policies and perform additional tasks as required

Requirements
Educational Qualifications
The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or a related field with a focus on gene editing technologies. Experience in plant molecular biology, plant engineering, or plant biotechnology, with demonstrated experience in gene editing and RNAi.

Core Competencies

• Research Excellence:
• Deep understanding of RNAi and gene editing and their application in crop improvement
• Proficiency in molecular techniques, including vector design, cloning, PCR, and sequencing
• Strong experience in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation
• Excellent data analysis and bioinformatics skills
• Innovation: Ability to develop novel approaches to genetic engineering and problem-solving
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners
• Communication: Skilled in disseminating research outcomes to scientific audiences
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage the project
• Writing Skills: Proven track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals

Benefits
General information:
The contract will be for an initial period of two years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.

Applications:
Applications must include a cover letter which should address how the candidate's background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant's current or previous organization or applicant's direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Director, People and Culture. Please complete our online application form using this link:

Closing Date:
10th October 2025

IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
.

• Lead the design and implementation of sophisticated statistical models and machine learning algorithms for scientific data analysis.
• Develop and manage data pipelines for ingesting, cleaning, transforming, and analyzing large-scale scientific datasets from various sources (e.g., experimental, observational, genomic).
• Collaborate closely with domain experts (biologists, chemists, physicists, etc.) to understand research questions and translate them into data science problems.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, providing technical leadership and fostering professional development.
• Design and conduct rigorous A/B testing and validation studies to assess the performance of models and hypotheses.
• Develop reproducible research workflows and ensure best practices in coding, version control, and documentation.
• Communicate complex analytical findings and insights effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences through clear visualizations and presentations.
• Identify opportunities to leverage new data science techniques and technologies to solve challenging scientific problems.
• Contribute to grant proposals and publications by providing data analysis expertise and insights.
• Ensure data privacy, security, and ethical considerations are maintained throughout all data science projects.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and their applications in scientific research.

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in data science, with a significant portion focused on scientific or research applications.
• Demonstrated experience in leading data science projects and mentoring junior team members.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is highly desirable.
• Excellent data visualization skills and experience with tools like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Tableau.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Superb communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a distributed, remote team.
• Experience with bioinformatics, cheminformatics, or other specialized scientific data analysis is a plus.

• Lead the design and implementation of complex data science projects to address critical research questions.
• Develop and apply advanced statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and predictive models to large, complex scientific datasets.
• Extract, clean, transform, and analyze diverse data sources (e.g., experimental data, simulations, observational data).
• Visualize complex data and communicate findings clearly and effectively to researchers, stakeholders, and collaborators.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists and research staff in data analysis methodologies.
• Collaborate with principal investigators and research teams to define research objectives and data requirements.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and their applications in scientific research.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and computational workflows.
• Evaluate and implement new tools and technologies for data analysis and modeling.
• Contribute to grant proposals and research publications by providing data science expertise.
• Ensure the reproducibility and validity of analytical results.
• Identify opportunities to leverage data for novel discoveries and advancements.
• Manage data governance, privacy, and ethical considerations in research data analysis.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences and workshops.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex analytical challenges.

• Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a significant focus on scientific research applications.
• Extensive expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning techniques (e.g., deep learning, Bayesian methods, reinforcement learning), and experimental design.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong experience with big data technologies and distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent data visualization skills and experience with tools like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Tableau.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex analytical projects and mentor junior team members.
• Exceptional problem-solving, critical-thinking, and analytical skills.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, capable of explaining complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences remotely.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and drive projects to completion in a remote setting.
• Experience in a specific scientific domain (e.g., genomics, astrophysics, bioinformatics, computational chemistry) is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of data management best practices and database technologies.