icipe Graduate Student (PhD) Career - Responses of coffee pests with emphasis on the coffee berry borer (CBB), the coffee white stemborer (CWSB)

Graduate Student (PhD) Position

Topic: Responses of coffee pests with emphasis on the coffee berry borer (CBB), the coffee white stemborer (CWSB) and two main coffee diseases, and their natural enemies / antagonists to changes in climate

icipe is an intergovernmental organisation funded by government aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improved health and agricultural productivity in the tropics.

icipe has approximately 350 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes, located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Ph.D Topic: “Responses of coffee pests with emphasis on the coffee berry borer (CBB), the coffee white stemborer (CWSB) and two main coffee diseases, and their natural enemies/antagonists to changes in climate”

Objectives:

• Compilation of a database on peer-reviewed and grey literature (all possible available), relating to the coffee pests and diseases subject of this call in Tanzania.
• Baseline seasonality surveys on population dynamics and epidemiology of the two key coffee pests and two coffee diseases and their natural enemies/antagonists in shaded and unshaded coffee systems across altitudinal gradients of Mt. Kilimanjaro
• Identification of key natural enemies of the CWSB and CBB and possible antagonists of diseases in the area of study.
• Establish temperature dependent life-tables for the CWSB and key natural enemies of both the CWSB and CBB.
• Establish and validate phenological models based on temperature dependent life-table datasets for the key pests and their natural enemies using the past, present and predicted climate change scenarios in Mt. Kilimanjaro.
• Refine the models by including epidemiological data of the selected diseases and seasonality of pests, and other spatial data layers such as land cover changes, precipitation and humidity.

Crops: Shaded and unshaded coffee systems

Pests: Coffee white borer (Xylotrechus quadripes), Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), two main coffee diseases (Coffee leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Disease)

Natural enemies: Prorops nasuta and other insect natural enemies or disease antagonists to be identified in this study.

Qualifications for the position

This doctoral fellowship is expected to run from 2012 to 2014 and is tenable at icipe.

The successful candidate will be selected in the framework of a fair and competitive process within icipe and will begin her/his training any time from February 2012 or soon thereafter.

Specific Qualifications:

The applicant must have BSc and MSc degrees with a minimum award of upper 2nd class degree or equivalent in Entomology or Horticulture or Crop protection sciences or agricultural agronomy

Should be a Tanzanian

Maximum age of 36 for men and 40 for women years at the time of application

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligible for registration in one of the ARPPIS member universities (visit the icipe website: icipe website or ARPPIS website: ARPPIS website for a comprehensive list of ARPPIS member universities)

Application requisites:

Interested applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Two letters of reference. One reference letter from a scientist or institution outside Tanzania will be an asset.
• Fluency (written and oral) in English is fundamental.
• Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts of degree courses taken;
• A Letter of nomination for training by the employer a must
• A one-page write-up on Why you think you are the right candidate for this position?

Send application documents by email to pmachera@icipe.org with a Subject line: Coffee Pests PhD Application.

Candidates who fail to comply with ALL the qualification requirements will not be considered.

Applications will be accepted up to 18 November 2011.

Only applications of shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

icipe is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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