Researcher in rodent and disease ecology

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies
The position is placed at the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies at The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, Sweden. The department offers a creative and stimulating environment and perform internationally recognized basic and applied research, education and environmental monitoring in the research areas: animal ecology, aquatic ecology, molecular ecology and restoration ecology (see https://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/research/research-areas/ ). The department has a large proportion of international employees and well established national and international cooperation which gives opportunities for fruitful exchange.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Researcher in rodent and disease ecology

Description:
The overall aim with the PhD project is to quantify and assess if and in which way, wetlands are a source for waterborne, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Focus of the project is on beaver wetlands and a key question is if beavers as such are a host and or reservoir for pathogens and/or if they create environments that are favorable for the occurrence and transmissions of pathogens.

Tasks of the PhD student include field studies and field experiments that comprise sampling of mosquitoes, ectoparasites and small mammals. Lab work includes serology and extraction of RNA and DNA. As a PhD student, you will work in an international research environment and your project is part of the EU Green Deal project MERLIN (Mainstreaming Ecological Restoration of freshwater-related ecosystems in a Landscape context: INnovation, upscaling and transformation) and the EU Horizon Europe project BEPREP (Identification of best practices for biodiversity recovery and public health interventions to prevent future epidemics and pandemics; starts in September 2022)

Qualifications:
You have a Master’s degree in ecology, virology, veterinary science or equivalent. You have good knowledge of and have practical experience in study design and field sampling of pathogens, their vectors and/or hosts. The candidate is familiar with vector-, rodent- and or bat-borne diseases and experienced in serology and genetic methods for detection of pathogens. You have good knowledge of statistical methods and are experienced in using R. We look for a candidate with good writing and communication skills in English. The PhD education requires that you can work independently and in a team.

Place of work:      
Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years) 

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
2022-09-15 or according to agreement. 

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2022-06-27.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se