This consultancy at the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory aims to develop a preliminary
protocol for studying the behaviour of antimicrobials in aquaculture pond sediments and assessing their safe use in
agriculture. It supports PUI project 'Integrated Strategies for Managing Antimicrobial Resistance in Western and Central
African Aquaculture'. The project addresses key challenges such as antimicrobial persistence in sediments, their
environmental risks, and implications for food safety when reused as fertilizers. It also examines microbial dynamics
and the effects of transitioning from anaerobic to aerobic conditions.
The consultancy integrates isotopic tracing (e.g. Cavity Ring Down Spectrscopy analysis) with microbiological and
molecular methods (16S rRNA and PLFA) to study antibiotic degradation and microbial changes under controlled
conditions. Outcomes include an experimental framework and evidence-based guidelines for the safe agricultural reuse
of aquaculture sediments. These results will inform Member States on sustainable practices and contribute to the IAEA
project Assessment of Soil Contaminants in Agricultural Lands.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Carry out three microcosm experiments with sediments incubated with sulfonamides (including fully carbon-
13 labelled sulfamethoxazole, SMX) using Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)and SMX extraction to
evaluate the rate of SMX degradation.
2. Incubate sediment microbial communities under controlled environmental conditions (pH, temperature,
dissolved oxygen) to monitor microbial growth during the transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions.
3. Perform 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and SIP-PLFA analyses to compare the dominant species in
aerobic versus anaerobic environments.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
4. Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition
Qualifications and Experience
5. University degree (bachelor) in Soil Science or related field.
6. Minimum two years' experience in soil microbiological techniques and analysis.
7. Experience in soil microbiological techniques and analysis, including microbial inoculation and culture methods, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing, DNA isolation, next-generation sequencing, and taxonomic profiling.
8. Experience in the use of stable carbon isotope techniques to assess the fate of AMR in agricultural soils, including incubation experiments using Laser Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)analysis.
9. Good knowledge of oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) an asset.
Remuneration
The remuneration for this consultancy is a daily fee of up to a maximum of € 150, 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.