Research Officer - Ifakara Health Institute

Title  : Research Officer 

Location: Ifakara

Project : Faecal Fertilizer

Summary

Approximately 75 % of the population of Tanzania does not have access to improved sanitation. Also appropriate faecal sludge management systems are needed to treat faecal sludge safely and recover important resources such as nutrients and energy. The Ifakara Health Institute is seeking a research officer for an awarded research grant titled:
A novel rice husk fired furnace to sterilize human excreta and create a safe faecal fertilizer business which will motivate up-take of improved ecological sanitation. 

The position requires a candidate who can run field and experimental trials to heat sterlize faecal sludge using the novel furnace design. The candidate will also conduct community trials and market research surveys. The position requires large quantities of time in the field and also to test faeces samples in the laboratory. The development of an effective business could lead to potential up-scaling of this model. 

 
Duties and responsibilities 

• To work as the research officer for the Grand Challenges Canada project: A novel rice husk fired furnace to sterilize human excreta and create a safe faecal fertilizer business which will motivate up-take of improved ecological sanitation (# 0553 - 10 - 01). 
• In consultation with the project leader; develop and implement the research objectives according to the scheduled timeframe. 
• Design and conduct laboratory and field experiments in line with the objectives of the project. 
• Ensure that quality control procedures and ethical guidelines are adequately followed in the running of the above project. 
• Collect analyses and report on both quantitative and qualitative data. 
• Supervise field workers, volunteers and technicians as required by the project. 
• Assist with resource management as budgeted for in the project. 
• Report on progress and outcomes of the projects at the end of every month by way of electronic or printed reports. 
• Write and publish high quality scientific papers in peer reviewed and internationally recognized journals. 
• Present research findings at least twice a year at weekly thematic group meeting and at least once at a national conference during the course of the project. 
• Liaise with the community, government and other stakeholders as required. 
• Undertake at least one professional development opportunity in grant writing, paper writing or data analysis during the course of the project. 
• Assist with other aspects of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects as required.
• Use local transport (bicycles) and motorbikes to conduct field work.

Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor of Science Degree, Bachelor of Engineering Degree or Bachelor of Social Sciences 
• Ability to design scientific experiments
• Ability to design and adapt sanitation hardware
• Basic laboratory skills for the testing of chemical and microbial parameters
• Collection of environmental samples and qualitative information (surveys) from the field
• Analyzing data using simple statistical methods
• Oral presentations of scientific research
• Preparing reports and/or manuscripts
• Liaison with community, government and other stakeholders
• Willingness to engage in higher education and professional development opportunities

Competencies

• Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Spoken and written English to business standards
• Spoken and written Swahili to business standards

Remuneration and Mode of Employment

An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates as per IHI scales.
This is a 12 months contract which may be renewable for one year depending on funding.


Mode of Application

All candidates meeting the above job requirements should channel their application letters with detailed curriculum vitae (CVs) showing contact address, e-mail, telephone numbers, and photocopies of academic and professional certificates to the address below. The application letter should also include the following information:

• Why the applicant is interested in this sanitation project
• Ideas for the study design to validate the 'novel rice husk fired furnace' and determine the market for safe faecal matter.

IHI staffs working in other projects may also apply and should channel their applications through respective project. 

The dead line for this application is 7August 2014. Interviews will be held in Ifakara.

The Chief Human Resources Officer

Ifakara Health Institute,

P.O Box 74,

Bagamoyo. 
E –Mail: recruitment@ihi.or.tz copying jmthomas@ihi.or.tz