Head of Laboratory at Institut Pasteur du Laos

Background

The HoL at the IPL is expected to interact with the LIH on a daily basis to direct a research team working in the field of infectious disease and public health research, with a focus on vaccine-preventable diseases. Under the overall leadership of LIH, the HoL will oversee a team of currently 2 scientists, 1 research engineer and 3 technicians, manage administrative responsibilities, and contribute valuable scientific input to the design of research studies. The successful candidate will have a solid background and interest in infectious diseases, public health research and immunology, and a proven track record in supervision and capacity building.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Team Supervision:

• Collaborate in supervising a team of scientists, research engineers and technicians at IPL;
• Uphold and promote shared values of respect, inclusivity, and collaboration, ensuring alignment between both institutes throughout all aspects of team leadership and project execution;
• Actively seek the input of all team members of the joint laboratory;
• Foster a supportive work environment by empowering staff, providing mentorship, and creating opportunities for professional growth and development;
• Practice open and transparent communication, ensuring timely and clear sharing of information with all relevant parties, including staff, collaborators, and partners;
• Lead with empathy, treating all staff members with respect, and maintaining a positive atmosphere that prioritizes wellbeing within the team;
• Provide training to students and interns hosted at the LaoLuxLab;
• Ensure adherence to IPL rules, including on safety and ethics.

Administrative Tasks/ Management:

• Manage administrative duties related to team budget, holiday requests, orders and other relevant functions;
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with the Clinical and Applied Virology group of LIH.

Scientific Contribution:

• Provide scientific inputs and innovative ideas for research projects;
• Participate in decision-making processes regarding the launch of new studies;
• Organize scientific discussions with the team to improve their scientific knowledge and understanding;
• Contribute to innovative joint research grants preparation and submission;
• Contribution to general scientific discussions at IPL & collaboration with other IPL teams;
• Publication of articles in very good scientific or medical journals.

Culture Integration:

• Embrace and immerse in the Laotian culture;
• Ability to adapt to and integrate into different cultural settings, with a strong commitment to understanding and respecting local customs, norms, and values;
• Effectively manage and motivate a team of Lao scientists, research engineers and technicians;
• Collaborate with the former long-term HoL for a smooth transition.

KEY SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Infectious Diseases, Virology, Public Health, Immunology, or a related field;
• Experience in applied infectious disease, public health, and/or immunology research, and capacity building;
• Strong background in pathogen and antibody detection;
• Proven ability to generate and develop innovative scientific ideas;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills;
• Team player;
• Cultural sensitivity and willingness to adapt to the Laotian work environment and to support the development of other national organizations and institutions;
• Proactive problem-solving and troubleshooting skills;
• Strong time and research data management skills;
• Previous experience in a similar role is appreciated;
• Having a medical background is considered an asset;
• Fluency in English (speaking and writing).

GENDER EQUALITY

The LIH is an equal opportunities employer. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff. The LIH is attentive to gender representation among its leadership staff and aims to eliminate obstacles to the recruitment and promotion of female leaders and their career development.