POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
 
Post-Doctoral Research Scientist:  Livestock Feed Resources Modelling -
REF PDRS/10/97
 
General:
 
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), founded in 1994,
incorporates the resources of the former International Laboratory for
Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD, Kenya) and the International
Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA, Ethiopia).  ILRI, a non-profit-making
research institute, is sponsored by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).  The global mandate of ILRI
is to undertake research to enhance the role of livestock in sustainable
agricultural production sy stems in Africa, Asia and the Latin
American/Caribbean region.  Research programmes address the following
areas:  conservation of biodiversity, production systems research,
utilisation of tropical feed resources, animal health improvement,
livestock policy analysis, and strengthening collaboration with national
agricultural research systems.  ILRI employs approximately 80
internationally recruited scientists, 20 postdoctoral associates and 800
support staff based in the institute's campuses in Nairobi, Kenya a nd
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and at field sites in Niger, Nigeria, Burkina
Faso, Zimbabwe, Colombia and Peru.
 
The Position:
 
The Sustainable Production Systems Programme of ILRI oversees several
ecoregional research teams in various locations around the world,
involved with research into ways of increasing smallholder productivity
through sustainable interventions in crop-livestock systems.  These
ecoregional teams are supported by a wide range of other research
activities in animal health and production systems at ILRI's
headquarters in Nairobi and elsewhere.
 
ILRI has a position for a post-doctoral research scientist to develop
generic simulation models of large ruminant feed resources and their
utilisation, with particular emphasis on the feed-animal interface in a
spatial framework.  These models will be developed and tested for
multiple sites and applied to help provide information concerning
constraints in mixed farming systems of the tropics, identification of
intervention points in these systems, and assessment of the biophysical
feasibility of different sy stem interventions.  Outputs from these
models will be used to assess production impacts at higher hierarchical
levels that take account of the economic, environmental, ecological and
spatial factors that define mixed farming systems in the tropics and
subtropics, and to develop recommendation domains for the transfer of
feed technology options at the ecoregional level.
 
The appointee will join a small multidisciplinary research team in the
Sustainable Production Systems Programme based in Niamey, Niger, under
the direction of the Co-ordinator of the Systems Analysis and Impact
Assessment Project, Nairobi, Kenya.  The successful candidate will be
expected to help in project proposal development.  The position will
involve some travel to ILRI's headquarters in Nairobi and from time to
time to work with ILRI's partners in advanced research institutions in
the USA and Europe.
 
Location:
 
This is a joint position with the Semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa Project
located in Niamey, Niger, and with the Systems Analysis and Impact
Assessment Project located at ILRI Headquarters in Nairobi, both in the
Sustainable Production Systems Programme.  The position will be located
in Niamey, Niger.
 
Qualifications and Experience:
 
The appointee will have a recent PhD in the general areas of animal
production and forage science, with extensive experience in computer
simulation modelling of animal production systems.  Applicants should
have highly developed modelling skills, some experience with Geographic
Information Systems, and a proven ability to work within a
multidisciplinary and international research team.  Work experience in
the tropics would be a definite advantage.  Articulate communication and
writing skills, and fluency in E nglish, are required.  Knowledge of
French and Spanish would be definite advantages.
 
Conditions:
 
Initial appointment will be for a period of two years.  Salaries are
paid in US dollars.  ILRI provides excellent benefits including
employer-paid medical, life and disability insurances and retirement
benefits.  Relocation, housing, annual leave travel and education
allowances are also provided.  On-site accommodation in furnished houses
is subject to availability.
 
Applications:
 
Applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the names
and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who
are knowledgeable about the candidates professional qualifications and
work experience to the Human Resources Manager, ILRI, P.O.  Box 30709,
Nairobi, Kenya; Telephone:  254-2-630743; Fax:  254-2-631499; e-mail:
[log in to unmask]  The name and reference number of the position for
which the application is made should be clearly marked on the envelopes
of mailed, or o n the fax or email applications.  Screening of
applications will begin on 1st November 1997 and will continue until the
post is filled.
 
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.