High-Resolution, Data-Validated Models for Risk of West Nile Virus in the UK
Supervisors:
Marta Shocket, Lancaster Environment Centre, (Lancaster University)
David Ewing, James Hutton Insitute
Steven White, Uk Centre for Ecology& Hydrology
Summary:
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease currently expanding its range into northern Europe, and there is growing concern that migratory birds might introduce WNV to the UK. We are looking for a PhD student to learn advanced mathematical modelling techniques and use them to generate high-resolution, spatially explicit risk maps for transmission of WNV in the UK based on climatic, habitat, and bird host community drivers.
Ideal candidates will have a background in mathematics or statistics and a strong interest in public health or infectious disease biology/ecology. Depending on student interest, there is the possibility to include one summer of field work to collect additional data from mosquito populations in England to help validate the model output. The student will be primarily based at Lancaster University, with co-supervisors located at the University of Glasgow and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.