The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the
Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V. (www.izw-berlin.de) together with the
Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology (FIWI) at the University of
Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (www.vetmeduni.ac.at/fiwi), the Weierstraß
Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS, www.wias-berlin.de),
the Institut for Virology of the Freie Unversität Berlin (FU,
www.vetmed.fu-berlin.de) and the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology
and Inland Fisheries (IGB, www.igb-berlin.de) have formed a consortium
to implement the AQUAVIR project funded by the Leibniz Association.
Water is required for life. We have accumulated evidence suggesting it may
be an overlooked viral vector. In climatic zones with seasonally limited
precipitation such as east Africa and central Asia, animals congregate
at high densities at scarce water sources. We hypothesize that viruses
shed in water in this ecological setting would gain a fitness advantage
if they evolved traits permitting the retention of their infectivity
in water and a reduction in host specificity. The AQUAVIR project will
determine whether water is a significant viral vector and how viruses
behave mechanistically in such settings, and develop mathematical models
to understand the epidemiology and evolution of this phenomenon. We
therefore seek to fill the following positions:
- 2 doctoral positions in evolutionary disease ecology
- 1 postdoc in molecular virology
- 1 postdoc in mathematical modeling in epidemiology
Specifically:
1 doctoral student in evolutionary disease ecology: African waterholes
(05/15) â IZW
1 doctoral student in evolutionary disease ecology: Asian waterholes
(06/15) â IZW/FIWI
Specific tasks: Determine the distribution, persistence and species usage
of water sources; determine the effect of water source characteristics
on virus presence; non-invasively determine if physiological stress
is correlated with virus excretion in potential host species; analyse
environmental DNA of water samples to compare genetic diversity of
potential viral host sequence diversity obtained directly from animals
compared to their drinking sources.
Requirements: Veterinary degree or completed masterâs / diploma
degree in biological sciences; clean driverâs licence; competence
in statistical methods; ability to work independently in challenging
environments and to interact with scientists from a wide variety of
fields; strong interest in wildlife, conservation and evolutionary
biology; a background in ecology, previous experience with wildlife,
experience in field research and off-road driving experience would be
highly advantageous.
Position 05/15 will be supervised by Prof Alex Greenwood (IZW Dept
of Wildlife Diseases) and Dr Marion L East (IZW Dept of Evolutionary
Ecology), position 06/15 by Prof. Alex Greenwood and Prof. Christian
Walzer (FIWI).
1 Postdoc in molecular virology (07/15) â IZW/ FU
Specific tasks: Serological analysis of mammalian samples using
species-specific viral peptide-based ELISA; next generation sequence
characterization of equine herpesviruses from water and animal
samples; evolutionary analysis of viral sequences obtained to determine
phylogenetic affiliations and estimate evolutionary dynamics of viral
populations, including evaluation for positive selection on sequences
relevant to virulence or stability in water and/or novel recombination
events that might influence viral phenotype; viral mutagenesis to
determine whether positively selected sites or recombination events
identified in field samples alter viral phenotype, e.g. virulence or
stability; coordinate with two field doctoral students and a postdoc
mathematical modeller.
Requirements: The successful candidate will have a completed doctoral
degree, extensive experience in molecular virology, a strong interest
in wildlife, conservation and evolutionary biology and interact with
scientists from a wide variety of fields. Previous experience in
evolutionary biology and next generation sequencing analysis will be
considered a major advantage.
The postdoc will be supervised by Prof. Alex Greenwood (IZW) and
Prof. Nikolaus Osterrieder (FU).
1 Postdoc in mathematical modeling in epidemiology (08/15) â IZW/WIAS
Specific tasks: Develop and analyze epidemiological models incorporating
water as a viral vector, temporal changes of water sources and
interactions between different species; simulate individual-based models
in the ecological setting of the project.
Requirements: The successful candidate should have a completed doctoral
degree and be experienced in epidemiological modeling using probabilistic
concepts. Candidates with a strong background in mathematical modeling
within other contexts may also apply. The successful applicant will
combine probabilistic, analytical and numerical approaches to study the
effect of the spatio-temporal variability in the abundance of host and
water sources upon the evolution of virulence and other epidemiological
outcomes. Good communication skills and a strong interest in evolutionary
biology are required as theory will be developed in close collaboration
with biologists from IZW and mathematicians from WIAS.
The postdoc will be jointly supervised by Drs Stephanie Kramer-Schadt
(IZW Department of Evolutionary Ecology), Alex Courtiol (IZW Dept
of Evolutionary Genetics) and Prof. W. König (WIAS Research Group 5:
Interacting Random Systems). The working location of the candidate could
be situated at either IZW, WIAS, or in both institutes.
Applications and working environment
In our consortium we offer state-of-the-art methodology and a stimulating
international research environment within an interdisciplinary,
collaborative context. The doctoral positions are initially limited to two
years, with the possibility for extension to a maximum of three years. The
postdoctoral positions are limited to three years. All positions start
on June 1, 2015 at the earliest. Salary is according to TVöD (65%
for doctoral students, 100% for postdocs). As a member of the Leibniz
Association, and lead institution of the AQUAVIR consortium, the IZW
is an equal opportunity employer, determined to increase the proportion
of women in successful scientific careers, and particularly encourages
women to apply. Preference will be given to disabled applicants with
the same qualifications.
Enquiries or questions should be directed to Prof. Alex Greenwood,
email:
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(05-08/15), Dr. Marion East,
email:
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(05/15), Prof. Chris Walzer, email:
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(06/15), Prof. Nikolaus Osterrieder,
email:
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(07/15), Prof. Wolfgang König, email:
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(08/15), Dr Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, email:
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(08/15), or Dr Alexandre Courtiol, email:
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(08/15).
Please email complete application documents as a single pdf-file
including the position reference number, a letter of motivation, CV,
copies of relevant degrees, and names and contact details of two referees
as soon as possible but no later than March 20, 2015 via the IZWâs
online-job-market (button âApply onlineâ).
Stephanie Vollberg
Personalsachbearbeiterin
Leibniz-Institut für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW)
Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17
10315 Berlin (Friedrichsfelde)
Tel. 030- 5168 107
Fax. 030-5126 104
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