Reindeer herding is central to indigenous Sami culture, identity, and food security. Sustainable herding practices with high levels of animal welfare require up to date knowledge about disease and changing disease risk throughout the year. The nomadic transhumance movement of herds between seasonal grazing areas exposes them to a potentially wide range of pathogens. Some, including the parasite Elaphostrongylus rangiferi (brainworm, causing elaphostrongylosis), are closely linked to climatic factors including temperature and precipitation. Under the right climatic conditions explosive development of infectious larvae in the snail intermediate hosts can result in large disease outbreaks in reindeer.
Outbreaks associated with warmer weather have had a devastating impact on some reindeer herds in recent years and the herders need advice on treatment and on alternative strategies to prevent future outbreaks. Treatment options are limited and time-sensitive – once clinical signs are seen, it is too late. Models that predict exposure of reindeer to infection could allow herders to identify the optimum timing of treatment, movement to new pasture to avoid infection, or altered slaughtering strategies, thus reducing the risk and impact of outbreaks significantly. Such a model would give the Sami herders a much-needed tool to help mitigate a negative impact of climate change on traditional reindeer herding practices and food security.
The project builds on a previous pilot project which developed two candidate models but identified significant knowledge gaps that currently prevent us developing decision-support tools for the Sami herders from these models. Your aim will be to develop a prototype online decision-support tool (such as https://www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/nematodirus-forecast/) by addressing these knowledge gaps and improving and testing our existing models.
You will be based at the University of Liverpool, but will visit Norway once per year to work closely with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute to collect gastropods and test them for brainworm. There is also the opportunity to spend time in the research group at Newcastle to broaden your academic experience, and opportunity to apply for further funding for extended visits to Norway to better understand the study system and work with Sami reindeer herders.
You will be trained in a range of methods including: R programming, mathematical modelling of parasite populations and transmission, field data collection methods, laboratory methods (incl. parasite enumeration/diagnostics, parasite culture, DNA extraction, PCR, sequence analysis), and translating research (making research available to the end-user in a suitable format, such as veterinarians, farmers and the Sami reindeer herders).
HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be made by emailing [Email Address Removed] with:
· a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);
· a covering letter – clearly stating your first choice project, and optionally 2nd ranked project, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application; you may wish to indicate, for example, why you are particularly interested in the selected project(s) and at the selected University;
· copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;
· a copy of your passport (photo page).
A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply. Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.
In addition to the above items, please email a completed copy of the Additional Details Form (as a Word document) to [Email Address Removed]. A blank copy of this form can be found at: https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply.
Informal enquiries may be made to [Email Address Removed]. The closing date for applications is 10th January 2022 at 5.00pm (UK time).
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