Emerging Sources and Pathways for Leptospirosis

Operational research funding with stipend is available from the New Zealand Health Research Council for a PhD studentship based at the School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand commencing 3 September 2018. This fulltime, three year studentship is a unique opportunity to work with a globally important zoonotic disease in a high quality training environment with multidisciplinary supervisors and advisors. You will develop or extend your skills in epidemiology, micro- and molecular biology, social science and data analysis.

Project aims include appraising risk factors associated with leptospirosis; identifying Leptospira infecting species and sources of infection; assessing drivers of acceptance for ACC cover and establishing a cohort of patients for long-term follow up.

We will conduct a nationwide prospective case-control study with nested sub-studies to investigate source attribution and work-place attitudes. This study will take a multidisciplinary approach capitalising on our extensive network of national stakeholders in industry and public health across New Zealand. The ultimate goal of this study is to guide effective interventions to help reduce the increasing burden of leptospirosis in New Zealand. We are looking for a scientist who is developing their independent thinking, is interested and informed about disease at the human-animal interface, wants to learn new skills or tools and can connect with patients, general practitioners, and medical officers of health. Patients are often rural based and in farming/meat working occupations, interviewing will be by telephone with a subset involving detailed face to face meetings in their homes.

The successful candidate will have an Honour’s degree in a relevant discipline or a medical or veterinary qualification and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as epidemiology, social science, microbiology, molecular biology, applied statistics etc.

Informal enquiries and/or request for more detailed information can be made to Associate Professor Jackie Benschop: [Email Address Removed]

Applications (in the form of a cover letter outlining the candidate’s motivation and fit for the project, together with a CV) should be emailed to Ms Wendy Maharey [Email Address Removed]. The closing date is 6th July 2018.