A post-doctoral position, funded by the French national research agency (Agence National de la Recherche) is available to work on the evolutionary ecology of mosquito-malaria interactions in the Unit “MIVEGEC” at the research institute for development in Montpellier, France. The position is available starting in February 2011 with the possibility of continuing support for up to 2 years. The major goal of the project is to understand the effects of a series of environmental factors on mosquito-malaria parasites interactions. Based at the research institute for health sciences in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, the successful applicant will investigate the role of vertebrate host diversity on Anopheles gambiae-Plasmodium falciparum coevolutionary conflicts. This includes (i) looking at the blood composition of a range of different vertebrate hosts and quantifying the host/parasite fitness costs and benefits of feeding on these blood sources, (ii) developing behavioural experiments to measure the odour-mediated host preference of infected and uninfected mosquitoes in the lab and (iii) studying mosquito blood-feeding behaviour in the field.
The applicants should have a strong background in one or more of the following areas: entomology, parasitology, animal behaviour/behavioural ecology, evolutionary ecology. A PhD in evolution, ecology, parasitology, entomology or similar field is required. Particularly encouraged are applicants with prior experience in field malaria research. The applicant should work well independently and as part of a team, and should be enthusiastic and highly motivated. The daily language at the research institute for health science in Bobo-Dioulasso is mostly French and knowledge of this language will be an advantage. Gross monthly salary is 2150€ (this salary includes health insurance, retirement contribution and other social security contributions, but not income tax); Net salary of 1700€.
Please email an application, consisting of a cover letter describing previous experience and fit to the position, full CV with a list of publications, and the names and contact information of two references to Anna Cohuet (anna.cohuet@ird.fr) and Thierry Lefèvre (tlefvre@gmail.com). The deadline for applications is October 15th.
For more information:
http://www.mivegec.ird.fr/
http://www.mivegec.ird.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=97&selected=117
https://sites.google.com/site/thierryelefevre/
Questions: anna.cohuet@ird.fr, tlefvre@gmail.com