Research Assistant or Research Fellow, Medical Entomology (106790-1222)

Research Assistant or Research Fellow, Medical Entomology (106790-1222)

Research Assistant: £27,929 - £31,411 per annum / Research Fellow: £32,348 - £42,155 per annum

Fixed-term contract until 31 August 2025, 1.0 FTE. Dependent upon the start date of the successful candidate any extension to the existing contract up to the maximum of 30 months duration will be subject to funder approval. Ideally, we are looking for a start date of 01/03/2023 or as soon thereafter.

We seek a motivated and ambitious PDRA with experience in entomology, experimental design and quantitative skills to join a UKRI- and European Union-funded international interdisciplinary team to develop an Early Warning System against sand fly-borne diseases to mitigate the effects of climate change on human and animal health.

The project partner activities include geo-mapping and xeno-monitoring sand fly vectors and measuring animal reservoir infection rates across European endemic settings, developing anti-sand fly saliva ELISA assays to measure vector-host interactions (bite exposure), and developing a standardised sand fly trap in conjunction with AI techniques for remote surveillance of changes in geographical sand fly abundance. The generated entomological and infection data will help to parameterise and validate predictive infection-climate models, designed with the input of partner public health ministries for policy development and public use.

The successful candidate will work closely with project partners to develop and field trial a prototype semiochemical-baited trap, and to test its effectiveness in reducing sand fly biting (anti-saliva antibody responses) on domestic reservoirs.

Previous experience in vector and disease control intervention trials and epidemiological analysis techniques would be advantageous but not essential.

For further details on this role please contact Dr. Orin Courtenay orin.courtenay@warwick.ac.uk

Interview Date: TBC.

Closing date: 15 February 2023.

Advert information