PhD position in Ecology & Evolution of Lyme disease

Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel

One PhD position is available for research on the ecology and
evolution of Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacteria, Borrelia
burgdorferi, and is transmitted among vertebrate hosts by Ixodes
ticks. Our lab is interested in studying the interactions between the
three players (pathogen, tick, host) at various levels of biological
organization (physiology, behavior, population ecology). The types of
questions that our lab is interested in are: (1) what are the effects
of parasites on hosts? (2) Why don’t hosts evolve resistance to
parasites (trade-offs between anti-parasite defenses and other life
history traits)? (3) What factors determine parasite virulence? The
prospective PhD student is welcome to come up with his or her own
thesis project. The University of Neuchâtel has a strong group of
parasitologists that study host-vector-pathogen interactions across a
wide range of biological organization (molecular biology, physiology,
and evolution and ecology).

Job requirements: The position requires an independent, highly
motivated, enthusiastic, and scientifically curious individual with a
strong background in ecology, evolutionary biology, or related fields.
Molecular techniques, field experience, and statistical data analysis
skills are useful. The applicant must have a Master’s degree. The
position requires teaching of undergraduate biology labs in French so
language skills are useful.

Start data: The position is available on June 1, 2011. Salary is
determined by the Institute of Biology.

Application requirements: Formal applications should be in English and
include: (1) a 1-2 page cover letter indicating research interests,
(2) your CV (including a list of publications), and (3) two letters of
reference. Informal enquiries and formal can be submitted by email to:
maarten.voordouw@unine.ch

Maarten Voordouw
Institute of Biology
University of Neuchatel
Rue Emile-Argand 11
CH-2000, Neuchatel
Switzerland
Tel. 0041 32 718 3114

The website is still a work in progress…
www2.unine.ch/Jahia/site/labpar/op/edit/pid/15585