Several positions are available to work on co-infection dynamics in a wild mouse population in the UK. This will be part of a NERC funded grant led by Amy Pedersen (University of Sheffield), Andy Fenton (University of Liverpool) and Owen Petchey (University of Sheffield) to quantify within-host parasite interactions and assess the stability of parasite communities (Pedersen & Fenton 2007).
This work will involve a combination of fieldwork (small mammal trapping), laboratory assays, and theoretical modeling.
1) Postdoctoral Research Associate:
The postdoc will manage the field trapping programme, conduct laboratory assays for parasite identification, carry out data analysis and help develop the quantitative within-host models. Experience in small mammal trapping, disease ecology and mathematical modeling are recommended but not essential. The postdoc will have the unique opportunity to link both experimental field based approaches with a community ecology theoretical framework to better understand the role of parasite interactions in shaping host-parasite communities.
2) Technicians (1 Senior & 1 Graduate):
The 2 full-time technicians will be primarily responsible for conducting the small mammal trapping fieldwork and data collection. We are looking for a Senior technician that has extensive experience with small mammal trapping. The Graduate technician will receive training in small mammal trapping and techniques in parasitology. Opportunities will be available for both technicians to develop their research interests within this host-parasite system.
3) PhD student:
A 4-year studentship (NERC) is associated with this project. We are looking for a student with strong quantitative skills to develop theoretical models of host-parasite community ecology. The research will be related to the fieldwork on co-infection dynamics in wild mice, but there will be scope to broaden the concepts to other systems and develop the research according to the student’s interests.
The student must be from the UK or be an EU student who currently resides in the UK.The positions will start: in April/May 2009 and the project will run for 3 years. Specific details of the application process will be released shortly, but we strongly encourage informal inquires about these positions.
Please email Amy Pedersen (a.pedersen@sheffield.ac.uk)
or Andy Fenton (a.fenton@liverpool.ac.uk) for more information.