About the Project
Project description
Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates, with global declines driven by and associated with emerging infectious disease, invasive species and climate change (North et al. 2015; O’Hanlon et al. 2018; Pounds et al. 2006). Two emerging infectious diseases severely impacting amphibian populations are chytridiomycosis, caused by a novel lineage of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd; O’Hanlon et al. 2018), and ranavirosis, caused by a group of viruses from the Iridoviridae family (Price et al. 2014). To mitigate emerging disease-driven amphibian declines, we need to understand host-pathogen interactions.
Key to pathogen success are reservoir hosts which serve as a pathogen source, but do not develop any signs of the diseases (Garner 2018). These reservoir hosts are a consistent source of the infective stage of pathogens when the susceptible amphibian host populations decline and are pushed towards extinction; in many cases these reservoir hosts are invasive amphibian species.
Wales has an ideal amphibian system to study these host-pathogen interactions, with both native, declining populations of amphibians as well as newly discovered smooth and alpine newts, which are an invasive species to the area. Climate change has already affected ranavirus disease dynamics in wild frogs, but it is currently unknown how future changes will affect disease dynamics in other hosts, or how amphibian community composition will impact outcomes (Price et al. 2018).
We seek a candidate who is self-motivated and interested in developing analytical skills in ecology, immunity, spatial epidemiology, climate modelling and experimental biology. You will become part of a team of researchers based at four UK universities with the ultimate aim of developing conservation strategies to effectively conserve the endemic amphibian fauna through climate change and emerging disease. Indirectly, the student will work with researchers at ZSL, UCL, Imperial College, Queen Mary University of London, Liverpool University and the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology, who are embedded in a larger project on amphibian declines and emerging disease.
The successful candidate should have scientific ability and motivation to do the best possible quantitative research in the field as well as in the laboratory.
This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. Undertaking a PhD with ARIES will involve attendance at training events.
All ARIES Universities have Athena Swan Bronze status as a minimum.
Applicants from quantitative disciplines who may have limited environmental science experience may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take appropriate advanced-level courses.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 26/27 February 2019.
For further information please see www.aries-dtp.ac.uk or contact us at [Email Address Removed].
ARIES studentships are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which applies the eligibility criteria laid down by its parent body, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These are outlined in their Terms and Conditions of Training Grants document, and given in more detail in their training Grant Guide, both of which can be found on the UKRI website.
Funding Notes
In general, UK and EU nationals who will have been resident in the UK for three years or more at the time when their PhD begins will be eligible for a full ARIES studentship. UK and EU nationals who have been resident outside the UK but within the EU during the qualifying period will usually be eligible for a ‘fees only’ studentship, which pays research costs and tuition fees but gives no help with living expenses.
In case of uncertainty, the planned university of registration should be contacted for eligibility advice; or the ARIES administrators: [Email Address Removed].
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