Consultant for Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was established in 195

• The IAEA is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose. The agency has a mission to enhance global peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security through the application of nuclear science and technology. The IAEA operates in over 170 countries and has a workforce of approximately 2,500 employees. Its headquarters is located in Vienna, Austria, and it has laboratories in Seibersdorf and Monaco. The organization focuses on various areas, including nuclear safety, security, and the application of nuclear techniques for sustainable development, particularly in food and agriculture, human health, and environmental protection.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position at the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory is focused on developing a preliminary protocol for studying the behavior of antimicrobials in aquaculture pond sediments and assessing their safe use in agriculture. This role supports the PUI project 'Integrated Strategies for Managing Antimicrobial Resistance in Western and Central African Aquaculture', which addresses significant challenges such as the persistence of antimicrobials in sediments, their environmental risks, and implications for food safety when reused as fertilizers. The consultancy will involve integrating isotopic tracing methods with microbiological and molecular techniques to study antibiotic degradation and microbial changes under controlled conditions. The expected outcomes include an experimental framework and evidence-based guidelines for the safe agricultural reuse of aquaculture sediments, which will inform Member States on sustainable practices and contribute to the IAEA project on the assessment of soil contaminants in agricultural lands.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting three microcosm experiments with sediments incubated with sulfonamides, including fully carbon-13 labelled sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The experiments will utilize Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) and SMX extraction to evaluate the rate of SMX degradation. Additionally, the consultant will incubate sediment microbial communities under controlled environmental conditions, such as pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, to monitor microbial growth during the transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions. The consultant will also perform 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing and SIP-PLFA analyses to compare the dominant species in aerobic versus anaerobic environments. Overall, the consultant will play a crucial role in advancing the understanding of antimicrobial resistance in agricultural contexts and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree (bachelor) in Soil Science or a related field. A minimum of two years of experience in soil microbiological techniques and analysis is required. The ideal candidate should have experience in microbial inoculation and culture methods, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing, DNA isolation, next-generation sequencing, and taxonomic profiling. Additionally, experience in using stable carbon isotope techniques to assess the fate of AMR in agricultural soils, including incubation experiments using Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) analysis, is essential. Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a laboratory setting are also important.

Educational Background:
The position requires a bachelor's degree in Soil Science or a closely related field. This educational background is critical as it provides the foundational knowledge necessary for understanding soil microbiology, agricultural practices, and the application of nuclear techniques in environmental management.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of two years of relevant experience in soil microbiological techniques and analysis. This experience should include practical knowledge of microbial inoculation and culture methods, as well as familiarity with antimicrobial resistance testing and molecular techniques such as DNA isolation and next-generation sequencing. The candidate should also have hands-on experience with stable carbon isotope techniques and the use of Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) for analyzing soil samples.

Languages:
A good command of oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy position offers a daily fee of up to a maximum of €150, depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. If duty travel is required as part of the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs will be provided. It is important to note that health coverage and pension fund responsibilities lie with the incumbent. The position may involve working on a contract basis, and the specific duration of the contract is not mentioned in the job posting.