The Research Officer III - Eddy Covariance role at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is crucial for improving food security and reducing poverty in developing countries through research on the sustainable use of livestock. ILRI is a CGIAR research centre, part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future. This role focuses specifically on supervising, establishing, and maintaining experimental sites utilizing Eddy Covariance (EC) flux towers and related environmental sensors, primarily in semi-arid areas of Kenya and potentially across East Africa. The officer will be responsible for ensuring high-quality data collection, processing, analysis, and the subsequent publication of scientific findings related to agricultural and rangeland productivity, GHG emissions, and nutrient management.
Key Responsibilities:
- Supervise the performance of two existing experimental sites with eddy covariance (EC) flux towers and other environmental sensors in two semi-arid areas in Machakos County, Kenya.
- Lead the establishment and maintenance of new EC flux towers in dryland systems in the region subject to funding availability.
- Undertake sampling of soils, aboveground biomass and other environmental variables as required.
- Ensure data quality assurance and control (QA/QC) in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- Conduct processing, visualization, and analysis of the newly derived EC tower data, also in relation to other environmental variables and remote sensing data.
- Lead and contribute to the writing and publication of scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals using the derived EC data.
- Develop conference/workshop presentations describing results and their implications for agricultural and rangeland productivity, GHG emissions, and nutrient management.
- Contribute to communication of findings to stakeholders, including researchers, press, ministries, livestock extension officers, farmers, donors, etc.
- Participate in capacity building of partners, and supervision of graduate students and research assistants.
- Contribute to resource mobilization through significant input to proposal development.
- Perform any other related duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Masters in the discipline of micrometeorology, (atmospheric) physics, environmental sciences, eddy covariance fluxes, or related fields.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in eddy covariance towers.
- Experience with eddy covariance flux measurements (setup, maintenance, data evaluation and processing) proven by at least two years of field experience with eddy covariance towers.
- Demonstrated ability to integrate eddy covariance flux data with ancillary environmental for synthesis studies on flux budgets, control parameters and processes.
- Ability to handle large datasets, data processing, and strong familiarity with statistical software such as R, SPSS, Matlab and/or Python.
- Willingness to coordinate and participate in regular field work campaigns across a range of experimental sites in East Africa.
- Knowledge on agricultural production systems in developing and/or developed countries is preferred.
- The ability to supervise and train research assistants and students, and provide necessary data quality control and assurance.
- A background in remote sensing or modeling of nutrient and water cycles is an asset.
- Working experience in developing countries desirable.
- Enjoying working as part of an international and intercultural team.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
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