PhD studentship in statistical genetics to reduce infectious disease transmission; Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh UK
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of devising effective methods that help limit the spread of infections. We are looking for a talented and dedicated PhD student interested in developing new statistical models to determine the genetic risk of individuals for transmitting infectious disease. This studentship will use genetic and health data from cattle populations in the UK to investigate the role of cattle genetics in spreading bovine Tuberculosis. The 3 year project, funded by the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, offers the PhD student the opportunity to make a strong contribution to the scientific statistical genetics field, and to the UK government’s goal of eradicating one of the most persistent livestock diseases. The student will benefit from a multidisciplinary supervisory team and research training environment in a world leading bioscience institute.
Project details:
Despite tremendous control efforts, bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) remains one of the most persistent livestock diseases in the UK and many other countries. Building on collaborative research between The Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the cattle industry launched in 2016 the genetic index ‘TB Avantage’, which enables farmers to select bulls with improved genetic bTB resistance. Empirical evidence now suggests that cattle may also differ genetically in their capacity to transmit disease, and that incorporating genetic risk estimates for transmitting disease into breeding programmes would help eradicate the disease. In this PhD project, we aim to develop the statistical tools and apply them to genetic and bTB surveillance data to calculate, for the first time, genetic risk estimates for cattle for acquiring bTB and for transmitting the disease.
Besides producing novel statistical methods and scientific insights into genetic effects underlying disease transmission, the successful PhD candidate will have the opportunity to closely work with the cattle industry to implement the project results into practice. As such, the student will contribute to the UK government goal to eradicate bTB by 2038.
PhD student profile, funding and research environment:
This PhD is in the field of quantitative genetics and computational statistics. Excellent numerical skills exemplified by a proven track record in mathematical or statistical modelling with programming experience are required as well as an interest in livestock genetics and infectious disease research. This 3 year PhD is funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB https://ahdb.org.uk/), offers a stipend of ~£15K per annum and is funded to pay the University of Edinburgh tuition fees for UK/EU students only. Non UK/EU nationals must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover the difference between the home and international student tuition fee levels:
Home/EU = £4,407; International = £23,500.
The successful PhD candidate will be based at the Roslin Institute. The candidate is expected to start in January 2021 and will be supervised by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Prof. Andrea Doeschl-Wilson, Prof. Georgios Banos, Dr. Enrique Molano-Sanchez and Marco Winters, head of AHDB dairy genetics. The successful candidate will join a welcoming, vibrant, multi-disciplinary research environment that brings together world leading livestock geneticists, epidemiologists, statisticians, bioinformaticians, and molecular biologists to improve livestock and human health and to train the next generation of world-class scientists.
Eligibility and How to Apply:
Applicants should have or expect to obtain a minimum of an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in animal breeding, statistics, mathematics, or any other relevant quantitative subject.
To qualify for full funding, students must be UK or EU citizens who have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to commencement.
For further information about eligibility and how to apply, please visit https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/statistical-genetics-to-reduce-infectious-disease-transmission/?p119365
For informal discussion about this studentship, please contact Prof. Andrea Wilson [log in to unmask]
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 31st July 2020.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
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