About the position

The position is part of the project “CIRcularity of Nutrients in Agroecosystems and co-benefits for animal and human health–” (CIRNA) on manure management in smallholder pig and dairy farms in Uganda and Kenya.

The duty station is in Uganda, with expected travel to Kenya as needed.

Responsibilities

• The candidate will oversee household surveys on manure management, collect manure samples, organize lab analysis for nutrients & pathogens, conduct data analysis, write scientific papers, and present results at conferences.
• The candidate will engage with relevant stakeholders outside of academia, most notably farmers & their representatives, extension agents, private sector actors, and policy makers to exchange information on sustainable and sanitary manure management as well as influence policies on the same
• The candidate will be embedded in a project consortium consisting of scientists, university lecturers, students, farmer representatives, and NGOs.He/she will be expected to engage with national and international bodies working on manure management (such as NARO, Makerere University, relevant Ministries, farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
• The candidate will conduct farm household surveys and sample collection (together with two MSc students). He/she will also be involved in the co-supervision of students.

Requirements

• PhD in Environmental Science, Agronomy, Soil science, Natural Resource Management, or similar
• At least 3 years’ experience working on manure management, including aspects of climate change mitigation (GHG emissions), plant nutrition (manure fertilizer quality), animal and human health (manure pathogens), and/or soil nutrient cycling
• Excellent understanding of manure management practices in African smallholder systems
• Excellent knowledge of nutrient cycling processes leading to GHG emissions and nutrient losses from manure
• Proven track record of scientific publishing (at least 2 first-author publication in peer-reviewed journals)
• Good connections in the livestock & crop sector of Uganda and/or Kenya, particularly linked to topics of manure management, climate change mitigation, and waste management