Research Scientist – Turkana Job KEMRI

AI summary

KEMRI is hiring a Research Scientist for a full-time position in Turkana, Kenya. The role involves molecular biology and bioinformatics work on pathogen and vector samples. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of experience.

• Full-time research position with Kenya Medical Research Institute
• Based in Turkana, focusing on molecular biology and bioinformatics
• Requires experience in NGS, PCR, and Linux scripting
• Contributions to public health and disease transmission studies

Description

Job Title: Research Scientist Date Posted: 10/07/2026 Job Type: Full Time Job Level: Middle Employer: KEMRI Industry: Medical Salary: Open Location: Turkana Country: Kenya Deadline: 29/07/2026 Summary: Looking for a medical job in Kenya? Kenya Medical Research Institute is hiring a Research Scientist to support project implementation and contribute to public health and biomedical research initiatives. The role is based in Turkana and experience in molecular biology is required. Key Responsibilities: Design, optimize, and implement molecular laboratory protocols for pathogen, vector, host, and environmental sample processing. Coordinate laboratory workflows including nucleic acid extraction, PCR assays, sequencing library preparation, quality assurance, and sample tracking. Perform comprehensive bioinformatics analyses of high-throughput sequencing datasets including quality control, genome assembly, alignment, variant detection, phylogenetic analysis, transcriptomics, metagenomics, and population genomics. Develop, optimize, and maintain reproducible computational pipelines using Python, Linux shell scripting, and workflow management systems. Integrate genomic, epidemiological, entomological, environmental, and climate datasets to investigate disease transmission dynamics and climate-health interactions. Perform advanced statistical analyses and develop informative visualizations, dashboards, and scientific figures for reports, publications, and stakeholder engagement. Manage research databases and ensure data quality, integrity, reproducibility, and compliance with institutional and national data governance policies. Interpret genomic findings and translate complex scientific results into actionable recommendations for project partners, county governments, and humanitarian stakeholders. Contribute to manuscript preparation, conference presentations, technical reports, and grant applications. Provide mentorship and technical training in molecular laboratory methods, bioinformatics, and scientific programming to project staff and students. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful implementation of laboratory and computational research activities. Maintain laboratory documentation, bioinformatics workflows, analytical reports, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Ensure compliance with biosafety, biosecurity, ethical guidelines, and the Kenya Data Protection Act (2019). Perform any other research-related duties assigned by the Principal Investigator or Project Supervisor. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Genetics, Genomics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Computational Biology, or a related biological science. Mandatory At least 2–3 years of research experience in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or related disciplines. Mandatory Demonstrated experience in molecular laboratory techniques including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, quantitative PCR, gel electrophoresis, library preparation, and DNA/RNA quality assessment. Mandatory Hands-on experience working with High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) platforms such as Illumina, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, PacBio, etc. Mandatory Strong bioinformatics skills for processing and analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) datasets, including quality control, genome assembly, read mapping, variant calling, transcriptomics, metagenomics, or phylogenomic analyses. Mandatory Proficiency in Linux/Unix environments and shell scripting. Mandatory Strong programming skills in Python for genomic data analysis, workflow automation, and statistical computing. Mandatory Experience using bioinformatics tools such as BWA, Bowtie2, Minimap2, SAMtools, BCFtools, GATK, BEDTools, FastQC, MultiQC, Kraken2, SPAdes, IQ-TREE, Nextflow, Snakemake, or equivalent tools. Mandatory Experience in statistical analysis and data visualization using Python (Matplotlib, Plotly, Seaborn), R (ggplot2), or equivalent analytical platforms. Mandatory Excellent scientific writing, communication, and presentation skills. Skills & Competencies Communication skills Skills & Competencies Team player Skills & Competencies How to Apply Click here to apply Browse Related Jobs: Clinical Research Scientist - Kisumu Job KEMRI Research Assistant, Sonographer Job AKUH Nurse Supervisor, OR Recovery Job AKUH Nairobi, Kenya Regulatory Affairs & Training Manager Job Nairobi,… 🎯 Applying for This Job? Don’t Send a Generic CV. Don’t send the same CV to every job/employer. Have our recruitment team customize your CV to match the requirements of this specific job and improve your chances of getting an interview. Customise My CV For This Job . ⭐ 5-Star Reviews . Job Seeker Testimonials: Professionals Who Got Jobs Through Corporate Staffing Since 2011, Kenyan professionals have trusted Corporate Staffing Services to help them secure employment with leading employers in Kenya and beyond. Read testimonials from candidates who have experienced our