Closing date: 30 Oct 2025

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is offering one PhD research project on "Ecosystem services and disservices from woody vegetation in agricultural landscapes of Eastern Kenya" as part of the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS).

 

Summary of the project

This PhD study is part of the "Regional Multi-actor Research Networks on Agroecology” project (RMRN-EA), funded by the European Union.

 

Introduction

Smallholder agricultural landscapes on the slopes of Mount Kenya are characterized by pronounced heterogeneity derived from a mosaic of annual crops mixed with woody vegetation, particularly trees, shrubs, and bushland. This mosaic, shaped by rainfall, topography, and soil diversity, supports a wide range of habitats. Biodiversity in these systems offers the potential to enhance a variety of ecosystem services such as natural pest regulation and pollination, but also disservices such as pest outbreaks or amplification of disease vector populations, simultaneously threatening crop and livestock productivity.

The abundance and functional diversity of communities delivering such services and disservices is shaped by the presence of woody microhabitats and broader landscape context. Optimizing land-use for ecological intensification maximizing benefits from biodiversity requires detailed mechanistic understanding of how local agricultural practices, but also landscape structure, and seasonality interact to influence multitrophic interactions.

Objectives

• ·        Characterize the influence of woody vegetation across local to landscape scales on the abundance, diversity, and interactions within multitrophic communities (pests, natural enemies, pollinators, and disease vectors).
• ·        Quantify the balance and trade-offs between ecosystem services (e.g., pest regulation, pollination) and disservices (e.g., crop damage, vector-borne diseases) delivered by arthropods in relation to habitat structure and complexity.
• ·        Develop functional typologies of trees and shrubs according to their seasonally varying roles as resource providers, refuges, or sources of disservice.
• ·        Generate landscape and management-level recommendations for agroecological transition, focusing on reconciling productivity, ecological resilience, and climate adaptation.

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The PhD Opportunity

We invite applications from highly motivated PhD candidates in agricultural sciences, ecology, entomology, landscape and community ecology, or related fields with a keen interest in participatory approaches bringing solutions to local agricultural challenges imposed by climate change, biodiversity loss and increasing food demand.

This PhD position will explore:

• The multifunctionality of agroforestry systems by integrating multiple ecosystem service/disservice indicators (natural pest control, pollination, and vector risk).
• Trade-offs and potential synergies between services and disservices influenced by landscape complexity and farming practices.

The successful candidate will work closely with a diverse research team spanning entomology, ecology, modeling, and community engagement. The PhD research will be hosted at icipe in Nairobi, with frequent field visits to project sites. The successful candidate will be part of a vibrant group of PhD scholars at icipe https://www.icipe.org/capacity_building/grad).

Benefits

The fellowship covers:

• Research costs, including fieldwork and data collection expenses.
• Attractive and competitive stipend.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and capacity-building workshops.
• Mentorship and training in scientific communication and grant writing.
• Applicants must note that tuition fees will not be covered.

Roles and Responsibilities

The candidate will:

• Monitor incidence and damage of crop pests and abundance/diversity of parasitoids and predators, but also that of vectors (biting flies, ticks), and relate patterns to microhabitats and landscape contexts.
• Quantify pest regulation (parasitism, predation rates) and pollination performance.
• Contribute to dissemination of research findings to project partners and stakeholders.

The specific research focus will be determined collaboratively with the supervisors within the broader research framework of RMRN-EA.

Eligibility criteria

• Be nationals of an African country.
• Hold a master’s degree (obtained within the last five years) in agricultural sciences, biology, entomology, ecology, or a related discipline with both degrees at least at least Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent).
• Demonstrate knowledge of experimental designs, and multivariate statistical analyses (e.g., GLMM and PLS models).
• Be proficient in analytical software (R).
• Have excellent written and spoken English.
• Have experience in field surveys and electronic data collection tools (e.g., KoboCollect).
• Be willing to travel and conduct fieldwork in rural settings.
• Candidates who are staff members of a public university or considered for university teaching/research staff recruitment are encouraged to apply.
• Qualified female candidates and candidates from underrepresented regions or those with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

The PhD position is based at icipe’s Duduville Campus in Nairobi, Kenya but with some periods in the field in Kenya.

The PhD project is fully funded for 3 years.

How to apply

Applications will be accepted up to 30^th October 2025. Applicants must submit the following documents online (email applications will not be accepted):

·         Completed application form, including a well-written abstract based on the research background (max. 750 words, excluding references) and a concept note (maximum 5 pages).

·         A concise letter of motivation, outlining your interest in the position, relevant experience, and willingness to commit full-time to the PhD training Programme. Include a link to a sample of academic writing (e.g., MSc thesis or publication).

·         A detailed CV (including academic background, field experience, and software skills; name, contact details, age, gender, and the names of at least two referees).

·         Certified copies of BSc and MSc certificates and transcripts.

Selection Process

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Shortlisted candidates will undergo an interview and written assessment.
• Successful candidates will be required to develop a full research proposal and register with a university after commencing their PhD at icipe.

For Questions and Further Information

For further inquiries about the PhD project, you may contact Dr. Frank Chidawanyika (fchidawanyika@icipe.org) and copying Dr. Thierry Brévault (tbrevault@icipe.org). If you have any questions regarding the DRIP Programme or your application, kindly contact Ms. Vivian Atieno, Capacity Building Officer, icipe. Email: vatieno@icipe.org  

Application Deadline: 30^th October 2025.