PhD position – Coupled dynamics of natural and human systems: Water quality, microbial dynamics, and human and wildlife health: Virginia Tech.

School: Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech

Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Salary: Competitive stipend, tuition waiver

Last Date to Apply: 12/01/2016

 

Description:

    We are seeking an outstanding researcher to join our interdisciplinary team and contribute to the characterization of ecological processes associated with fecal microbial dynamics, water quality, and human waterborne disease risk in a dry-land river floodplain system in Northern Botswana located in southern Africa. The project is funded under the National Science Foundation Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems. Temporal and spatial dynamics of water quality and the associated bacterial community will be characterized through community sequencing. A microbial source-tracking approach targeting the fecal indicator bacteria E. coli and human-associated Bacteroides and other human commensal bacteria will be used to identify potential transmission linkages between the different sub-environments, vegetation, sediment, soils, water, humans, and animals (domestic animals and diverse wildlife communities). We will also assess microbial dynamics through bacterial fate studies in these subenvironments and quantify the abundance of the human-specific bacteria in river and floodplain environments to identify where and when inputs of human fecal waste occur.
   The candidate will be co-supervised by the Project PI K. A. Alexander and co-PI Dr. M. Ponder. The candidate will work with other program collaborators and co-PIs representing, all together, a diverse portfolio of disciplines including disease ecology, epidemiology, microbial ecology, public health, veterinary medicine, hydrology, environmental engineering, mathematical modeling, dry land river ecology, and anthropology.

 

Qualifications:
    The individual must possess a Masters degree in Microbiology, Biology or related discipline. Successful candidates will be independent and highly productive showing demonstrated experience in molecular biology. Applicant must demonstrate ability to publish research outputs in peer-reviewed journals with quantitative PCR, and/or microbiome analysis/metagenomics. Bioinformatics experience is also preferred. Familiarity with water quality and bacterial source tracking would be ideal but not required. Candidate must be able to work independently, as well as collaboratively. An interest in exploring disease dynamics across scales, species, and disciplines will be an advantage.

Application Process:
     To apply for this position please send:

1) A letter of interest

2) A current curriculum vitae

3) Contact information for three references

4) Scientific publications produced by the candidate as a lead author

5) Copies of transcripts and GRE scores as a single *.pdf document to Dr. Kathleen Alexander (kathyalx@vt.edu) and Claire Sanderson (clairees@vt.edu). Non-native English speakers must also be fluent in English, as demonstrated by a recent IELTS of TOEFL test. 

     Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date spring of 2017. Competitive candidates may be invited to Virginia Tech for an interview.

For more information on our program please visit the following sites:
www.caracal.info
www.facebook/caracalbotswana.com
www.healthbotswana.blogspot.com
http://fishwild.vt.edu/faculty/alexander.htm