Postdoctoral Fellow-Waste Resource Recovery for Agriculture International Water Management Institute
As part of its new science portfolio, ‘Water, Land and Ecosystems’, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) wishes to strengthen its program of Resource Recovery & Reuse (RR&R) (http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/CRP5/Chapter-6.aspx ). Our aim is to create a world in which domestic and agricultural waste streams are a resource for the production of safe irrigation water, fertilizer and energy for in the benefit of local markets. We believe that using a business perspective on resource recovery from waste materials such as market waste, fecal sludge and wastewater will enable cost reduction in the sanitation service chain. Our proposition is that this will make sanitation service delivery more attractive and benefit impoverished urban dwellers whilst also helping to sustain urban food supply, generating jobs and enhancing livelihoods for millions of poor households in peri-urban areas of developing countries.
IWMI is seeking highly motivated scientists with a range of skills and knowledge to strengthen our RR&R team. Whether you are fresh from your PhD studies or have a great deal of experience already, we can promise scientists an exciting platform for this challenging endeavor at the agriculture-sanitation interface. We also seek those who are considering extending their studies in this subject so PhD sponsorship may be a possibility.
The following positions are now available and scientists with expertise in any of the areas outlined below are encouraged to apply. We are flexible about the level at which we appoint to the positions and will take into account background, experience and skills. Similarly, if you are interested in more than one position then please indicate this on your application letter.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW-WASTE RESOURCE RECOVERY FOR AGRICULTURE (2 POSITIONS)
Ghana, Sri Lanka or India
IWMI particularly encourages candidates from developing countries to apply.
The Person and the Job
If you have a background in the recovery of nutrients, water, organic matter or biogas from domestic or agro-industrial waste resources via processes applicable to low-tech settings this could be just the assignment for you. IWMI seeks postdoctoral fellows in its Resource Recovery & Reuse (http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/CRP5/Chapter-6.aspx) group which will contribute from the technical perspective to the development and application of sustainable and scalable safe business models on resource recovery in urban and
peri-urban low-income settings across Asia and Africa. This position reports to the Theme Leader, Water Quality, Health and Environment.
You will:
• work within a multi-disciplinary team merging social, economic, environmental, and technical analysis related to the recovery of valuable resources from waste, including the design of surveys, and supervision of field data collection and analysis;
• analyze existing recovery projects and business cases for their performance, productivity, scalability and environmental impact;
• assess risk mitigation options for safeguarding human and envir onmental health in the developing country context, i.e. also where conventional treatment options might not be sustainable;
• model waste use and resource recovery within feasibility studie s for planned reuse cases at different scale, in collaboration with economists;
• liaise with public and private sector stakeholders on the feasi bility of waste reuse options applicable to the local context;
• contribute ideas about linking in safe ways agriculture and san itation to enhance food security and business opportunities along the sanitation value chain in low-income settings; and
• prepare scientific reports and articles for peer-reviewed journals and represent IWMI, as required, at national and international events.
You must possess:
• a recent PhD in the area of expertise described above;
• knowledge of analysis of technical options for resource recover y preferably for agriculture or agro-enterprises;
• knowledge of applied technologies suitable to low-income countries and constrained institutional capacities;
• a degree in Civil, Agricultural or Environmental Engineering, or related disciplines;
• excellent written and spoken English; other languages would be an additional advantage;
• ability to establish priorities, plan, organize and monitor own work in a multiple task environment;
• strong interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams;
• ability to work respectfully with local and international partners; and
• proven ability to write scientific papers.
It would be useful if you have:
• experience in project management;
• known about pathogenic and non-pathogenic risk factors of poor sanitation;
• specialized in low-tech phosphorous recovery;
• worked on environmental impact assessment or modeling; and
• experience of GIS or have some background in economic analysis.
A postdoctoral contract is available for two years and is non-renewable. IWMI salaries are competitive with those of similar international institutions and offer a range of benefits including housing and utilities allowance, vehicle allowance, education allowance, annual home leave, health insurance package and shipping assistance.
Complete Application Form + attach your résumé + attach your letter which addresses IWMI’s requirements shown above with names and email addresses of 3 professional referees, to be contacted if you are short-listed
Your application will be acknowledged automatically within 24 hours. If not, please email us at work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org
The position will remain open until filled. We will begin reviewing applications on 6 November 2011
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