Consultant – Expert on Rapid Screening for Food Safety (Mycotoxins)

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The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA's Major Programme 2, "Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection". This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme's objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture assists Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the IAEA in using nuclear techniques and related technologies to improve food security, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable agriculture. The Joint Center consists of five Sections, each with an associated laboratory (located in Seibersdorf, 45 km south-east of Vienna), in the areas of: animal production and health; plant breeding and genetics; insect pest control; soil and water management and crop nutrition; and food and environmental protection.

The Food Safety and Control Section and Laboratory assist Member States in ensuring the safety and quality of food and agricultural commodities through the development of analytical techniques and application of food irradiation, focusing on the use of nuclear and related technologies in the management of food and environmental hazards and on strengthening capacities for nuclear emergency preparedness and response in agriculture.

Main Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise in the implementation of laboratory research to establish first-tier screening methodologies for food safety, to provide a rapid point-of-contact (POC) test to expedite response times to food safety incidents. The specific objective is to develop a rapid surveillance technique based on screen-printed electrodes (SPCE) for Ochratoxin A, with coffee as an exemplary food matrix. This is an important area of research as global patterns of mycotoxins are changing and proliferating due to the impact of climate change on crops pre- and post-harvest. The consultancy will facilitate the transfer of nuclear-complement technology to the control of contaminants and residues in foods

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Conduct optimization experiments for a competitive immunoassay for Ochratoxin A (OTA) detection using screen-printed electrode technology.
• Evaluate and implement strategies for signal amplification.
• Evaluate and document the analytical performance of the developed sensor for OTA detection.
• Analyse coffee samples available at the laboratory with the optimized immunosensor for OTA detection.
• Prepare training materials and a scientific publication for technology transfer to Member States.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

Skills and Expertise

• Food Safety

Assets

Skills and Expertise

• Contaminants, Biotoxins and Residues in Food and Environment

• Inorganic Analytical Chemistry

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's Degree - Advanced Degree in analytical chemistry
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in the field of analytical chemistry
• Experience in method development for residues and contaminants using screen printed electrodes and immunoassay technology.
• Experience in analytical method development and optimization for the analysis of residues and contaminants by electrochemical techniques.
• Specialist knowledge of field-based and point-of-contact analytical techniques.

Remuneration

The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 250, based on qualifications and experience. In case duty travel is required within the assignment, a daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and travel costs are provided. Health coverage and pension fund are the responsibility of the incumbent.