Metagenomics Trainer

Metagenomics Trainer – (2501204) 

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 months

Job Posting

: Mar 18, 2025, 9:55:50 AM

Closing Date

: Apr 1, 2025, 9:59:00 PM

Primary Location

: Türkiye-Ankara

Organization

: World Health Organization and Other Entities

Schedule

: Part-time 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings. 

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Purpose of consultancy 

The consultant will work in collaboration with the Public Health Institute in Ankara, and Regional Public Health Laboratories in Türkiye in close collaboration with the key project staff members and laboratory experts at the WHO Country Office in Türkiye. Under the guidance of the project coordinator and laboratory experts, the incumbent will act as the NGS and bioinformatics trainer within the scope of the project. S/he will provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH), particularly the Public Health Institute and Regional Public Health Laboratories.

Background 

The mission of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for all countries, to strengthen their health emergency preparedness, readiness, and response systems overall, both at national and sub-national levels.

The “Strengthening national capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies” project funded by the EU and implemented by MoH with the technical collaboration of WHO Country Office Ankara, aims to further strengthen laboratory capacities for COVID-19 diagnosis and surveillance and other emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic potential, reinforcing health security in Türkiye. Within the framework of the project, WHO will provide technical guidance and operational support to the Ministry of Health in the detection and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and timely diagnosis, surveillance and reporting of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, in compliance with the WHO recommended standards. To do this, WHO is supporting the Public Health Institute and Regional Laboratories to strengthen their capacity and capability to conduct next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic analysis for SARS-CoV-2 and other priority pathogens and to develop a national genomic surveillance strategy to guide this work.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: Develop a training on metagenomic analysis including:

a) Metagenomic sequencing definition, metagenomic studies design, sample collection and preservation techniques, methods for extracting metagenomic DNA, preparation of metagenomic libraries, data analysis and bioinformatics, genomic epidemiology, and ethical, legal and social implications.

b) Understanding the use cases of metagenomic sequencing for public health

c) Hands-on exercises

Deliverable 2: Develop pre- and post-assessment tests for the training and evaluate the results.

Deliverable 3: Deliver the training and write a report.

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in life science, biomedical science, medicine, veterinary medicine, or medical virology from an accredited/recognized institute. Certified training or qualification in molecular biology, microbiology, virology, NGS and bioinformatics.

Desirable: Training in Public Health or Public health laboratory practice is an added advantage.

Experience 

Essential 

• At least two years of experience in molecular biology/microbiology/virology laboratory with a special focus on diagnosis and/or research.
• Expert knowledge in the application of molecular techniques for genomic sequencing, through knowledge of microbiological, clinical and laboratory surveillance.
• Ability to work with national and international staff in the laboratory setting.
• Previous experience with organizing and teaching similar courses.

Desirable

Proven track record of successfully contributing as an international laboratory science specialist and expert knowledge in global SARS-CoV-2/other pathogens databases is an advantage.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatics, use of Next Generation Sequencing for Public Health, data analysis and reporting

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of the English language

Desirable: Expert knowledge of the Turkish language

Location 

On site: WHO Country Office for Türkiye, Ankara

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

a. Remuneration: Payband level B – Remuneration currency Turkish Lira– Payband range 2,045 USD (for 20 working days) 

Band level NOB for 20 full working days, in a period of 2 calendar months.

b. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

Not applicable for offsite and onsite for insurance purposed

c. Expected duration: Full time for a period of 2 calendar months (20 days per month).

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided.

c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

Additional Information

This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.

WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.

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