Understanding host-parasite-microbiota interactions in African biomes to prevent zoonotic disease transmission (BIOZOON)

Small mammals play a vital role in ecosystems, contributing essential services such as pollination and seed dispersal. However, they also serve as hosts for various ectoparasites and endoparasites, including ticks, which are significant vectors of diseases with implications for both veterinary and human health. The interactions between these parasites, their small mammal hosts, and the surrounding environment are complex and dynamic, influenced by microbiota, ecological variables, and physical landscapes. Understanding these intricate relationships is critical to advancing our knowledge of disease transmission and its broader environmental and societal impacts.

This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to explore these interactions through an interdisciplinary lens, combining expertise in molecular biology, bioinformatics, ecology, and predictive modelling. The research will investigate parasite diversity, host-microbiota interactions, and disease prevalence in small mammals across diverse environments, using cutting-edge molecular and sequencing techniques. The project also aims to uncover how environmental factors and host genomic profiles influence the distribution and dynamics of pathogens, offering new insights into the functional connectivity between hosts, pathogens, and their environments.

A key focus of the research is to develop innovative, data-driven models that integrate field-collected biological data with environmental datasets, including satellite-derived information, to predict disease dynamics under varying ecological and climatic conditions. This approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of how environmental changes, including those driven by climate change, impact host-parasite interactions and disease transmission patterns.

The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in a wide range of techniques, including field sampling, molecular diagnostics, metataxonomic and metagenomic analyses, landscape genomic approaches, and advanced data modelling. This project is designed to provide a robust foundation for a career in molecular epidemiology, disease ecology, or conservation science. It will also contribute valuable insights to wildlife and livestock management practices, helping to mitigate disease risks in a changing world.

With access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at Cardiff University and Fondazione Edmund Mach, the student will join a collaborative research environment at the forefront of ecological and molecular research. This PhD offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution to understanding disease ecology and developing solutions for sustainable management of wildlife and ecosystems.

Queries about the Project

if you have any further queries about the project please contact Dr Oktay Karakus (karakuso@cardiff.ac.uk) or Dr Isa-Rita Russo (russoim@cardiff.ac.uk) directly. There are also two additional supervisors on the team Dr Heidi Hauffe (https://cri.fmach.it/en/Staff/Hauffe-Heidi-Christine#) and Dr Michael Scantlebury (https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofBiologicalSciences/Connect/AcademicStaff/DrMichaelScantlebury/) however please do not contact them directly for any queries related to the project.

How to Apply

For student application, here is the link to the online application survey; https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/cardiff/onezoo-cdt-student-applications-for-2024-25 If the application meets the entrance requirements, the applicant will be invited to an interview. Only successful applicants will then go on and apply to the institution. Instructions for that will be provided after the interview. Information on the application process can also be found on the website www.onezoo.uk. 

Guidance on the application and interview process of the OneZoo CDT can be found here: How to improve your application & interview skills

A copy of the student application survey can be found here: Student Application Form OneZoo CDT 2024. This is provided to give you an idea of the information required and the points that need to be addressed.