Doctoral Studentship (Fish Feeds and Nutrition) At WorldFish Center

About WorldFish

WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research and innovation institution that creates, advances, and translates aquatic food systems science into scalable solutions. We vision an inclusive world of healthy, well-nourished people and a sustainable blue planet, now and in the future. Our mission is to end hunger and advance progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation to transform food, land, and water systems with aquatic foods for healthier people and the planet.

For over 45-years, WorldFish’s data, evidence, and insights have shaped practices, policies and investments to end hunger and advance sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries. We have a global presence across 20 countries in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, with 460 staff of 30 nationalities deployed where the most significant sustainable development challenges can be addressed through holistic aquatic food systems solutions. Embedded in local, national, and international partnerships, our work sets agendas, builds capacities, and supports decision-making for climate action, food and nutrition security, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, blue economy, OneHealth, and AgriTech, integrating gender, youth, and social inclusion.

About SLU

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a research-intensive institution focused on the sustainable use and management of biological natural resources, and is internationally recognized for its programs in rural development, natural resource management, animal science, and landscape architecture. Within SLU, the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management (HUV) conducts basic and applied research to create sustainable and profitable animal production with good care and high-quality food. HUV’s research encompasses agricultural production animals, sports, and companion animals, and the department is responsible for basic education, research, and postgraduate education in areas related to nutritional physiology, feed science, management issues, and aquaculture. HUV offers an environment that studies metabolic processes, nutrient utilization, and animal management in various production systems.

Background

The African catfish is a significant cultivated fish species in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, and is contributing significantly to the region’s socio-economic development. However, the industry’s sustainable expansion is hindered by the lack of low-cost and high-quality feed, along with extreme weather events associated with climate change causing infection stress. Smallholder fish farmers, who make up 70% of the country’s fish farmers and rely heavily on imported aquafeed, are most affected by these circumstances. A new WorldFish-led, Norad-funded project “Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA)” is being implemented in Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya, with additional research activities conducted at WorldFish headquarters (Malaysia) and SLU (Sweden).

WorldFish and SLU are seeking a nationally recruited PhD student to support the achievement of the project goal in Nigeria. The PhD student will research designing feed formulations using locally-available and sustainably-sourced ingredients, employing cutting-edge processing technology and screening using Artemia model system to produce economic and functional feed that improves growth and robustness of farmed species with fewer ecological footprints. Additionally, the candidate will collaborate with private feed companies and NGOs to transfer knowledge gained from this project to local feed millers and fish farmers.

The successful candidate has a joint affiliation with WorldFish Nigeria office and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden and will conduct their research within the framework of Norad-funded FASA project led by WorldFish. The candidate will be based in Nigeria with WorldFish for approximately 18 months to conduct field experiments and in Sweden with the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management at SLU for approximately 30 months to participate and complete the required PhD courses, write a PhD research proposal, complete PhD experimental works, write scientific papers, and defend the PhD thesis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct course work at SLU.
• Write a PhD research proposal.
• Design and conduct scientific experiments at SLU and Nigeria.
• Write scientific, technical and outreach articles.
• Present at workshops and conferences.
• Write and defend the PhD thesis.
• Work collaboratively with the other technicians and scientists at WorldFish and SLU.
• Develop productive partnerships to further feeds research in Nigeria, for the adoption of the innovation resulting from the PhD research.
• Build productive relations with investors and development partners from public and private sectors for scaling out research results in Nigeria.
• Mentor BSc/MSc students and interns from national and international universities and organization, who are involved in the project.
• Plan, organize, execute and report on PhD project progress in dialogue with senior as well as junior staff/employees and external partners.
• Contribute to resource mobilization for further feeds work in Nigeria and in other WF countries.
• Support WorldFish country office in Nigeria.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained:

• Applicants must possess a Master’s Degree in Aquaculture, Animal Sciences, Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, or a similar field. The ideal candidate should have a strong academic background and a keen interest in animal nutrition, animal feed technology, immunology and nutritional biochemistry.

Requirements

This opportunity will be suitable for you if you have the below skills and qualifications:

• Relevant knowledge and experience in animal feed, nutrition, and nutritional biochemistry or nutritional immunology.
• Practical laboratory experience.
• Experience in performing fish nutritional trials and tissue samplings, and nutraceuticals screenings using Artemia model system.
• Knowledge of biochemical analysis, gene expression, immune system, microbiome and omics assays.
• Innovative skills with the ability to generate new ideas and implement them in practice.
• Independent problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, with a high level of autonomy and creativity.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong technical and scientific writing skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Good leadership and mentoring skills.
• Project management experience.

Benefits

The studentship will cover the cost of international tuition fees, supervision fees, international travels, plus stipend for 4 years. Interviews are expected to be held in June 2023. Only shortlisted candidate will be notified and expected to attend the interview.