LABORATORY SCIENTIST – SALIVA AND PLASMA EBV TO ENHANCE BURKITT LYMPHOMA DIAGNOSIS [SPEED

PROJECT| JOB ADVERT

St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor is seeking a skilled and dedicated Laboratory Scientist to join our team under the SPEED Project. The Laboratory Scientist will be part of a ground-breaking research project focused on endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) in children.

The project aims to optimize preanalytical procedures to improve the specificity of EBV DNA as a biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The scientist will conduct and support laboratory-based studies, ensuring the highest quality standards in specimen preparation, analysis, and data documentation.

No of Positions:

1 Positions

Reports To:

Principal Investigator.

Terms of Employment:

Full Time. [Short Term Contract ,renewable based on availability of funds]

Deadline for Applications:

18th/1/2026

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Specimen Handling and Analysis

Develop and optimize preanalytical procedures for blood and saliva specimens, including:

• Use of cell-stabilizing tubes to minimize ex vivo cell lysis.
• Techniques for reducing contamination by viral DNA from latently infected cells or virions.
• Enrichment for CpG methylated DNA to improve diagnostic specificity.
• Evaluate the effects of specimen transport conditions (temperature, time, additives) on cell-free DNA (CDNA) recovery and EBV DNA measurements.
• Perform plasma separation and analysis, including the exclusion of PBMC-derived viral DNA.
• Conduct saliva specimen analysis to minimize contamination from oral epithelial cells and lymphocytes.
• Consenting patients, sample collection of blood, saliva and another specimen as required.
• Occasionally, you will be required to go to the field to follow up with study participants when needed.
• Any other duties assigned by the Principal Investigator or immediate supervisor.

Laboratory Operations

• Maintain a well-organized and compliant laboratory environment, ensuring adherence to Good Clinical and Laboratory Practices (GCLP) and biosafety standards.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment for processing cDNA and EBV DNA analysis.
• Collaborate with international and local research teams to standardize methodologies and protocols.
• Flexibility in running samples for the hospital whenever there is need.

Data Management and Reporting

• Record, manage, enter and analyse laboratory data using REDCap.
• Prepare comprehensive laboratory reports and contribute to manuscript preparation for publications.
• Present findings to the research team and participate in project planning meetings.
• Capacity Building and Training
• Train and mentor junior laboratory staff and research assistants in sample handling, laboratory techniques, and data documentation.
• Assist in the development of training materials and workshops aimed at improving laboratory practices.

Basic Qualification & Requirements

•  A bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences/Medical Laboratory Sciences or equivalent: A master’s degree in Molecular Biology is an added advantage.
• Fully registered with the relevant professional body
• Competence in processing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCS)
• Skills in histopathology techniques is beneficial.
• Upto date with GCP, PHRP and GCLP.

Candidates who are passionate about working with children and conversant with the Luo language will have an added advantage

How to apply

Interested and suitably qualified candidates are advised to send their application, detailed curriculum vitae, photocopies of academic documents and certificates electronically as a single 1 pdf document not exceeding 8MBs to

vacancies@lacorhospital.org and copy it.office@lacorhospital.org. No hard copy shall be accepted.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.