Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

This new full-time post is available from the 1^st of October 2023 until the 31^st of August 2026 on a fixed term basis.

The post

The Centre for Ecology and Conservation wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate / Research Fellow to participate in a Human Frontiers Science Program funded research project to investigate the association between olfactory immune modulation and anthropophilic preferences in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and its consequence for the epidemiology of arboviral diseases, such as dengue and Zika.

The successful applicant will be supporting the development of an evolutionary modelling framework to investigate the implications for odour-associated mosquito traits on arboviral disease emergence. Using a variety of modelling approaches, from ODE to spatially-explicit agent-based, the aim of this project will be to elucidate the ecological conditions that have selected mosquito traits, which underlie their preference for human blood whilst simultaneously affecting mosquito fitness and their susceptibility to and transmissibility of arboviruses. Besides supporting in model development, parameterisation and evolutionary inference, the successful candidate will work close collaboration with empirical scientists and project partners based in India, Brazil and Canada.

About you

For the PDRA:

The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Applicants will be able to work independently and have expertise in scientific programming and data analysis.

For the PDRF:

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will have a recognised track-record in mathematical modelling and/or infectious disease epidemiology and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. Applicants will be able to develop and simulate mathematical models independently using open source programming languages, such as Python and R; understand evolutionary and epidemiological principles; analyse and interpret biological data from a variety of sources, including spatio-temporal ecological data and in vitro experimental data on antiviral immunity and vector competence; fit models to empirical data using sophisticated statistical inference methods.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

For further information please contact Dr Mario Recker, e-mail m.recker@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01326) 259329.

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