Mathematical models for emergent parasitic zoonoses
PhD opportunity, Zurich, Switzerland
We are seeking a PhD student to undertake collaborative research in the VetFuisse Faculty (section of epidemiology) and the Institute of Mathematics, University of Zurich. Emerging zoonotic diseases are an important threat to human health. In Switzerland there is growing evidence that alveolar echinococcosis is increasing in incidence in humans and this is associated with an increase in the fox population – the natural host of the causative age Echinococcus multilocularis. We are interested in developing spatial transmission models to describe the epidemiology of this parasite in its natural hosts. Diagnosis is also a challenge and the unavailability of a perfect gold standard for routine affordable diagnosis in the hosts of the parasite and in environmental samples leads to additional challenges. Therefore we wish to develop stochastic modelling techniques to incorporate this diagnostic uncertainty into a GIS modelling system.
The Section of Epidemiology is a new group in the Vetsuisse Faculty. We have major interests in modelling of parasitic diseases, diagnostic test analysis and population disease burden analysis, particularly in regard to zoonotic disease.
The PhD student is likely to have a strong interest in quantitative biology and ecology, ideally with a mathematical/epidemiology/veterinary background and will be based in the Vetsuisse Faculty.
For further details please contact:
Professor Paul Torgerson, Section of Epidemiology, VetSuisse Faculty, Winterthurestrasse 260, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland. Email
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Professor Reinhard Furrer, Institute of Mathematics, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Switzerland. Email:
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