Consultant - Laboratory Scientist in Isotopic Applications, IAEA Laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria

Organizational Setting

The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, "Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Centre consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food and environmental protection.

The Animal Production and Health Section and Laboratory assist Member States in improving livestock productivity through the efficient use of locally available feed resources, reproduction and breeding practices, and disease diagnostic tools and control measures.

Main Purpose

Within the framework of its activities to support sustainable livestock development and food security, the Animal Production and Health Laboratory (APHL) of the Joint FAOjlAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is engaged in strengthening Member States' capacities to address key constraints affecting animal production and health, including poor feed and nutrient utilization, low reproductive efficiency, environmental stress, infectious and transboundary animal diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and inadequate animal identification and traceability systems. APHL seeks to advance the use of nuclear and isotope techniques to improve animal production and health through enhanced assessment of nutrition, productivity, genetics, disease surveillance, traceability of animals and their products, and AMR, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making and effective interventions .. The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise with regards to the optimization, validation, and standardization of stable isotope methodologies for applications in animal nutrition, animal health, AMR detection, and animal traceability with the key objective to establish technical and analytical capacity at the animal production and health laboratory of the Joint FAOjlAEA Centre.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Review and evaluate existing stable isotope methodologies used in animal nutrition, animal health, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and animal traceability applications, and identify opportunities for optimization and sta nda rd ization.
• Define analytical applications of stable isotope techniques for assessing feed intake, nutrient utilization efficiency, AMR detection and surveillance, and traceability of animals and animal products.
• Develop and optimize analytical protocols for selected stable isotope methodologies applicable to animal production and health research and services.
• Carry out validation studies to assess the accuracy, precision, reproducibility, robustness, and fitness-for-purpose of optimized stable isotope methods.
• Prepare detailed research protocols for the application and evaluation of stable isotope techniques in animal nutrition, animal health, AMR detection, and animal traceability.
• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for validated stable isotope methodologies, including sample collection, preparation, analysis, quality assurance, quality control, and data interpretation procedures.
• Provide technical recommendations on laboratory workflows, analytical requirements, equipment utilization, and quality management systems to support implementation of validated methodologies.
• Prepare training and reference materials to strengthen technical and analytical capacity of the Animal Production and Health Laboratory staff in the application of stable isotope techniques.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Animal Diseases

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree (bachelor) in biological, agricultural, environmental, or health sciences.
• Minimum two years' experience in the development and application of stable isotope techniques and/or nuclear-related technologies in animal production, animal health, food systems, or related fields.
• Proven experience in the preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), laboratory quality assurance and quality control systems, and method verification/validation.
• Experience with laboratory procedures, quality assurance and quality control practices, and analytical techniques.
• Experience working with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and other stable isotope analytical platforms would be highly desirable.
• Exposure to stable isotope analysis, including isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), would be considered an advantage.
• Experience in research within animal, agricultural, environmental, veterinary, biological, or related life sciences, with demonstrated application. of stable isotope, nuclear, or other advanced analytical techniques to address challenges in production systems, health, traceability, or resource utilization.
• Experience in technical training, capacity building, and technology transfer for laboratory personnel, particularly in developing countries, is an asset.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with proficiency in English.
• Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated with keen attention to detail and thorough documentation skills.

Remuneration

The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 238.09, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.