PhD position: Population genetics of free-roaming dogs and disease

A funded PhD position is available in the group of Gerald Heckel for genomic research on the population structure and connectivity of free-roaming dogs and their viruses. This position is part of a large interdisciplinary project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) aiming to determine the role of free-roaming dogs in the spread and persistence of infectious disease. The project will combine experts from veterinary and social sciences, epidemiology, mathematical modelling and population genetics to test which influence the landscape, infrastructure and human-dog relationships have on disease transmission in Africa and Asia. A postdoctoral position will open soon to work closely with the PhD candidate on the population genetics aspects, and several PhD and postdoctoral researchers from the other disciplines will collaborate. The overarching goal of the project is to formulate effective and socially accepted control strategies to reduce infection and disease burden in dogs and humans.

I am looking for a skilled, reliable and highly-motivated PhD candidate who is able to work independently and in a diverse team of different origins and educational backgrounds. The project includes periods of data collection on free-roaming dogs in Uganda, Chad, Indonesia, and India together with local and international collaborators. Experience with fieldwork in potentially physically challenging conditions is a plus. You must have a solid background in evolutionary biology, and some practical experience with bioinformatics, population genetics or evolutionary genomics. Experience with molecular laboratory work or fieldwork is advantageous but not essential. Most of your time will be devoted to the processing and analysis of genomic data sets, and the preparation of presentations and manuscripts. A Master degree in a relevant field is required. Obtaining a PhD from the University of Bern will require the writing of several manuscripts for leading scientific journals.

The position is fully funded for up to four years with an anticipated starting date of June 2025. My group is part of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution with a stimulating, multi-national research community and excellent infrastructure. English is the working language. Some knowledge of German or French is beneficial for living in Switzerland but it is not essential for the PhD project. The city of Bern and the region is a fabulous place to live.

Please send your application as a single (!!!) pdf file to Prof. Dr. Gerald Heckel gerald.heckel@unibe.ch. To be considered, the pdf must include a letter describing your particular skills and motivation for the project and which past research experience makes you a suitable candidate (max. 2 pages), the abstract of your Master thesis, a CV, and contact details of 2-3 referees. Review of applications will begin February 5 2025.