ILRI MSc Graduate Fellowship: Efficacy of a selected commercial ear tag against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus on cattle

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an MSc graduate fellow to work in the Efficacy of a selected commercial ear tag against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus on cattle project. The successful fellow will be hosted by the Health program at ILRI.                                                                                                   

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve people’s lives in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that contributes to equitable and resilient livestock systems to deliver food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The Health program’s goal is to enhance the health and welfare of farmed livestock, improve human well-being, and protect the shared environment by strengthening control measures for animal and agriculture-associated health risks. The program adopts a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By addressing disease risks at this interface, the program aims to prevent the spread of zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases that threaten public health and food security. Read more here: https://www.ilri.org/index.php/research/themes/health

 The position

This study will focus on control of the Brown Ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The preference of the R. appendiculatus for feeding on the ears of their hosts makes this species a prime candidate for control by acaricide-impregnated ear tags. Although this tick is not the only tick species commonly found on livestock in East Africa, its presence often dictates the frequency with which cattle should be dipped or sprayed (currently up to twice a week with unsafe products) because of the damage caused to the ears by high tick burdens and the risk for East Coast Fever.

The MSc student will conduct field trials to assess the efficacy of a commercial ear tag to control ticks on cattle. The availability of a convenient, safe, efficient solution to control this tick species would be a game changer in tick- and tick-borne disease control in East Africa serving.

Terms and reference

• Coordinate field data collection activities at remote field site.
• Follow study protocol and VICH GL9 (GCP) guidelines for the implementation of this study.
• Conduct clinical examinations of cattle.
• Administer veterinary medicines as required.
• Collect data following ALCOA+ principles either as hardcopies or electronically.
• Collect biological samples from calves and cattle.
• Carry out tick counts and identification.
• Conduct clinical pathology tests including blood smear analysis and haematocrit.
• Analysis of data.
• Preparation of thesis.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidate

• Bachelors in veterinary medicine.
• Enrolled in MSc (applied parasitology, public health or epidemiology).
• Experience in preparing and conducting field work.
• Experience using data capturing tools (e.g., paper based DCFs, ODK, Medrio).
• Laboratory experience – such as making blood smears and handling samples.
• Experience with conducting studies under VICH GL9 Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Location: ILRI Kenya.

Duration: 1 Year.

Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location, medical cover and research expenses. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by ILRI scientists and an academic supervisor.

All applications MUST include the following (applications without the below documents will not be considered):

• a cover letter expressing their interest in the fellowship position and what they can bring to the fellowship.
• CV including names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• academic qualification certificates/transcripts.

Applications should be made to the Senior Manager, Capacity Development, through our recruitment portal by clicking on "Apply Now" on or before 22/10/2025. The position title and reference number ILRI MSc GF/Health/03/2025 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.