Postdoctoral Research Position in Co-surveillance of Wastewater and Environmental Water Samples for SARS-CoV-2 and Pathogenic Viruses in Nigeria

Application reference number: PDF-2021-WPHRG

Type of employment (Extent): Fixed-term (100 %)

Location: Central Science Laboratory, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of 6-month extension based on performance

First day of employment: March 01, 2021

The Water and Public Health Research Group (WPHRG), University of Nigeria, Nsukka invites

emerging researchers to apply for the 2021 Research Capacity Development grant.

Brief background of the research group:

WPHRG is a trans-faculty team at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (www.unn.edu.ng) that seek

to: (1) study water, public health and development through multidisciplinary approaches, (2)

develop capacity and contribute in advancing knowledge in the water, environment and public

health sectors, (3) help in providing safe water to communities and marginalized groups in sub-

Saharan Africa countries, and (4) collaborate with relevant organizations/institutions/groups in response to various water-related challenges and frontiers.

Project background/objectives:

SARS-CoV-2, the aetiologic agent of COVID-19 has been shown to be present in the faeces and

urine of individuals with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection, and thus in wastewater.

Currently, only small proportion of the population can receive clinical testing, and the problem is worse in developing nations due to limited capacity and resources for molecular testing. This project aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in Nigeria and South Africa, using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and environmental surveillance. The project will also assess the occurrence of other, common and emerging virus strains (e.g. enteroviruses, measles and influenza) in wastewater and environmental samples. It will also determine the health risks associated with polluted environments using infectivity assays and determine the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Nigeria. This project is part of a collaborative effort together with researchers at the UK and South Africa

(https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/tracking-covid-19-and-other-viruses-in-wastewater).

Responsibility for the position:

1. Independently conducting experiments involving molecular techniques such as nucleic

acid (DNA/RNA) extraction & analysis, conventional PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR (qPCR and RT-qPCR).

2. Implementing new processes and protocols in the execution of the project to ensure specified study objectives are met.

3. Reporting on study progress and implementing recommended revisions, amendments,

and other study changes.

4. Preparing results and manuscripts for scientific research article publications and conference paper presentations.

5. Helping to develop new research proposals and grant submissions.

6. Performing other duties as assigned.

Water and Public Health Research Group

Department of Microbiology

University of Nigeria

Nsukka 410001 Nigeria

E-mail: wphrg@unn.edu.ng

Phone: +2348036922106

Educational qualification/experience:

PhD (obtained within the last 5 years) in Virology, Medical/Environmental Microbiology,

Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related discipline.

Essentials:

Demonstrable experience in nucleic acid (RNA/DNA) extraction, real-time PCR, next-generation

sequencing library preparation, bioinformatics, and data analysis.

Experience working in a biosafety level 2 facility

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

Ability to work harmoniously in an interdisciplinary team

Method of application:

Interested and qualified candidates should forward suitability statement (application) and

curriculum vitae as a single MS word/PDF document to: wphrg@unn.edu.ng, with the

application reference number (PDF-2021-WPHRG) clearly indicated as the subject of the email.

Two confidential referee reports must also be sent to this same email address.

Closing date: February 28, 2021

Salary: Attractive and comparable with what obtains in other standard organizations/

institutions.

For further information please contact:

Professor Vincent N. Chigor, Principal Investigator, and Coordinator, Water and Public Health

Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Email: vincent.chigor@unn.edu.ng

Follow this link to view File Postdoctoral Research Position in Co-surveillance of Wastewater and Environmental Water Samples for SARS-CoV-2 and Pathogenic Viruses in Nigeria