Laboratory Technician (Pathology) Job Vacancy

Job Title: Laboratory Technician (Pathology)
Job Ref: Ngetta/03/2010
Reports: Pathologist Scientist
Work Station: Ngetta Lira
Salary Scale; UR6

Overall Purpose:
To provide support to scientists undertaking research and experiments with plant materials and other micro-organisms.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Prepare maintain laboratory materials, equipment, facilities and work area in a clean condition
• Set-up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipments.
• Receive and prepare laboratory samples for analysis, following proper protocols in order to ensure effective storage, handling, and disposal of samples and specimens such as solutions, soils and plants for isolation, analysis and labeling
• Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing as well as preserving, isolating and analyzing samples and specimens as directed
• Process samples and amplification of DNA, prepare culture media, centrifuge as well as grinding, drying, packaging, weighing, incubation, sterilization, digesting and extraction
• Conduct standardized biological, microbiological and biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in plants and other products. Examine specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems through observation, examination, identification, isolation and purification of samples
• Feed laboratory animals and insects
• Conduct pathogenecity test, re-isolation for multiplication and inoculums preparation
• Conduct incidence and severity assessments and participate in the screening of materials for disease damage and pest resistance
• Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation
• Provide input on the development of the annual budget, especially item and cost specifications
• Provide input in the design and construction of facilities for undertaking experiments • Undertake routine maintenance of laboratory equipment and facilities including installation and calibration
• Requisition for laboratory materials and equipment according to approved budget
• Disposal of waste products in accordance with safety regulations
• Observe laboratory health and safety procedures
• Analyze experimental data, interpret results and writing reports and summaries of findings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Diploma in Laboratory Technology or its equivalent qualification
• Two years relevant experience

Key Competences

• Knowledge of plants, insects and other organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Ability to listen, understand and communicate information and ideas presented through spoken words and in writing
• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem.
• Ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Proficiency in computer software applications and statistical packages
• Ability to control laboratory operations comprising of equipment or systems.
• Customer responsiveness
• Ability to participate in multidisciplinary work teams
• Knowledge of environment health and safety and procedures
Apply for this job

Application Procedures:
Interested persons with the above requirements should submit their handwritten applications together with detailed curriculum vitae giving day-time telephones contacts and names and addresses of 3(three) referees as well as copies of professional certificates and testimonials to the underlisted address within 21 days from 24-10-2010

Only Successful applicants will be invited for interviews at short notice Applicants who do not receive any response within two weeks of the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.

The Director,
Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute
P.O. Box 52, LIRA