Jobs in Parasitology

Postdoctoral positions

PhD Project: Wildlife Disease Ecology Group at James Cook University "Risk of spill over of disease from wild dogs in the Wet Tropics"

Our research group has an opportunity for one PhD candidate to determine (1) the disease burden of wild dogs in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland and (2) mechanisms and risk of transmission of diseases of wild dogs to wildlife, domestic animals and humans in the Wet Tropics. It is expected that this research will lead to better control of these diseases and improved management of wild dogs.

Wild dogs pose a threat to biodiversity conservation and domestic animal and human health in the Wet Tropics. The wild-dog problem is compounded by the rapid rate of urban expansion in the region and the subsequent increases in the rate at which domestic dogs enter the feral population. The effects that these changes are having on native fauna, domestic animals and humans are poorly understood. These knowledge gaps hinder the implementation of effective control programs.

The successful candidate will be enrolled through the Schools of Marine and Tropical Biology and Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Chris Johnson, Dr. Lee Skerratt and Dr. Brad Congdon with additional supervision provided by Dr. James Butler, CSIRO. The candidate will also work closely with a recently enrolled PhD student, Damian Morrant, who will be concurrently studying other aspects of the ecology of wild dogs including their status, diet and movement patterns. The required work is mainly field based to survey wild populations for disease and to study transmission of disease to native fauna, domestic animals and people in the Wet Tropics bioregion. Candidates require a 1st or 2A class Honours degree or equivalent in veterinary science or biology. Candidates with experience in wildlife diseases will be preferred. Candidates should be comfortable with working in the field and sampling wildlife and be able to develop further ideas on studying mechanisms of transmission. The candidate will gain broad skills and knowledge in epidemiology, parasitology, ecology, emerging wildlife diseases and scientific publishing. The scholarship stipend is an Australian Postgraduate Award Industry (APAI) at $26,669 per annum (tax free).

The Wildlife Disease Ecology Group at James Cook University is a leading research group in Australia and overseas researching emerging infectious diseases of wildlife with current projects on chytridiomycosis in frogs, avian influenza in wild birds, surra in macropods and tick paralysis in spectacled flying foxes.

Applications consisting of an expression of interest and a curriculum vitae will close once a suitable candidate is found. Please contact: Dr Lee Skerratt to apply or for additional information, e-mail: lee.skerratt@jcu.edu.au, phone (W) 07 4781 6065, (M) 0427155537.