PhD Opportunity: Characterising impact of the nutritional landscape on mosquito immunity, behaviour, and disease transmission risk.

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About the Project: Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry represent an important emerging threat to the UK. While female mosquitoes can act as vectors when they take the bloodmeals they need to reproduce, blood makes up only a proportion of mosquito diets. This PhD project is jointly supervised by researchers at Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Imperial College London. The student will take a One Health focus to develop a research project that will fill critical knowledge gaps in how floral resources impact mosquito immunity, life history, behaviour, and by extension disease transmission risk. The successful candidate will undertake research to elucidate the impact of these biotic interactions both in mosquito species of current public health concern in the UK and Aedes albopictus, an important arboviral vector likely to invade the UK. Ultimately, the project aims to improve prediction and control of these public health threats.

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We are looking for a highly motivated student with strong quantitative skills and ideally experience in mosquito biology or biochemical analysis.

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Who can apply: The candidate must have a first class or a very good upper second class BSc or equivalent and, in addition, a Masters degree at Merit level or above before the commencement of the scholarship. Exceptional candidates without a Masters degree might be considered.

The student should demonstrate willingness and experience in taking part in outreach activities

We are particularly keen to get applications from underrepresented groups.

The student should qualify for Home Fees in England: Candidates must be either UK or EU nationals with settled status, and resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the commencement of the studentships. Experiments during the course of the PhD may be undertaken in APHA dedicated Biosecurity Level 3 laboratories, consequently the successful candidate will need to pass counter terrorism clearance checks and enrol on a health surveillance programme that may require vaccination.

 

Support available: If successful, you will receive the following financial support for up to 3 years starting 6th November 2023: Full funding for tuition fees, A stipend in line with UK Research Council scholarships to assist with living costs

Funds for consumables, field work and attending conferences, A programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by our Imperial Colleges Graduate School

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How to apply: Please send a cover letter, full CV, and names of two referees to Lauren Cator (l.cator@imperial.ac.uk) by September 15th 2023. The position will remain open until the position is filled.

 

If you are interested in developing a proposal for the President's PhD Scholarship program: 

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/fees-and-funding/scholarships/presidents-phd-scholarships/

Please get in touch with Lauren via email Deadlines to apply are 6 January 2023 and 3 March 2023