However, besides major successes achieved in control of infectious diseases, most elimination/control programs remain frustrating in many tropical countries where specific biological and socio-economical features have prevented implementation of disease control over broad
spatial and temporal scales. Emblematic examples include malaria, dengue, yellow fever, measles and HIV. There is consequently an urgent need to develop affordable and sustainable disease control strategies that can target the core of infectious disease transmission in highly endemic areas.
Focusing on Dengue transmission in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and on malaria spreading in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), the PANIC project (PAthogen˘s NIChe: a new approach for infectious diseases control) aims to develop conceptual, empirical and theoretical frameworks to envision
optimized public health strategies for vector-borne diseases by considering the most recent advances in ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. Funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche
(ANR, www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr ) for five years, this project involves French, Burkinabe and Cambodian researchers from various fields (entomology, virology, epidemiology, disease ecology, modeling) to tackle this issue.
Within this context, we are seeking for a post-doctoral fellow who will focus on data analyses to quantify the relative contribution of mosquito, human, pathogen and environmental factors on the
spatio-temporal transmission dynamics of (i) malaria in Bobo-Dioulasso and (ii) Dengue viruses in Kampong Cham, Cambodia. Most of the data relevant to this project (household socio-economic data, epidemiological time series and mosquito population dynamics from different neighborhoods) are already available, and additional data will be collected in the field at the beginning of the project. The post-doc will work in close collaboration with two other post-docs, each of these other post-docs will focus on one disease only and on other facets of disease transmission than the candidate for this position. Therefore, the post-doc will play an essential transversal role within the project and we expect to create a scientific synergy between the three post-docs.
The ideal candidate will have a PhD in epidemiology, in ecology and evolution of infectious diseases or in statistics, with evidence of scientific autonomy. A good background in quantitative epidemiology with cutting-edge statistical methods (Spatial models, GLMs or Structural
Equations Modeling among other possibilities) is required. Previous experience in infectious diseases epidemiology/dynamics in southern countries will be greatly appreciated. This position is for two years, starting in January 2016, in MIVEGEC lab in Montpellier (www.mivegec.ird.fr).
Interested candidates should apply by October 1st by sending (1) a letter of motivation, (2) a CV with publication list, and (3) the names, institutions and email addresses of three references to Dr. Benjamin Roche at benjamin.roche@ird.fr.
Benjamin Roche, PhD
Labs:
International Center for Mathematical and Computational Modeling of
Complex Systems (UMMISCO)
Infectious Diseases: Vector, Control, Genetic, Ecology and Evolution
(MIVEGEC)
Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Research on Cancer (CREEC)
Postal address:
Research Institute for Development (IRD)
911, avenue Agropolis BP 64504
34394 Montpellier Cedex 5
France
Phone:+33629585460
e-mail:roche.ben@gmail.com
web: http://roche.ben.googlepages.com
