Walking and working in agricultural environments: Discerning risks for transmission of antimicrobial resistance

The rapid emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a critical medical and public health issue worldwide and has profound implications for farming and global food security, human health, animal welfare and veterinary medicine. This interdisciplinary project will investigate relationships between countryside walking, agricultural work and possible risks from environmental transmission of AMR. It will do this by documenting practices and perceptions relating to walking and working on agricultural land among walkers and farmers, while estimating the number of AMR bacteria occurring in these environments. The project will involve ethnographic and qualitative research to learn how people who walk in rural environments for recreational purposes, as well as those who work there, perceive risks and benefits associated with physical activity on farmed land, including exposure to the natural environment, animals (specifically, sheep and cattle), and disease-causing bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which are abundant in the faeces of animals that share open green spaces with walkers and farmers. Exposure to AMR E. coli can potentially lead to subsequent serious opportunistic infections. The risk of potential exposure to AMR E. coli arising from recreational walking and working on farmland will be measured by collecting and analysing samples in green spaces with varying levels of usage by farmed animals (cattle and sheep). Views from key stakeholders on the acceptability of possible interventions to reduce potential harm from exposure to AMR bacteria while minimising adverse effects will be sought, using participatory approaches.

Candidates may have a background in either qualitative social sciences (ideally including anthropology or ethnography), mixed method health sciences, or biological sciences (microbiology knowledge or practical skills are not required). The successful candidate will benefit from tailored cross-faculty training in laboratory techniques, statistical skills and qualitative research methods.

IMPORTANT:
When applying online, please select `Faculty of Health Sciences` and ‘Population Health Sciences: PhD Programme’ and on the ‘Research Details’ page answer ‘Yes’ to the question about responding to a specific studentship advert and provide the full project title in the freetext box.

Please provide a current CV, covering letter, two-page research proposal building on the project outlines, certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts, and two academic references.
Shortlisted candidates will need to be available for interview on 22nd or 23rd March 2018.