About the Project
Mathematical and statistical models are important tools in wildlife biology. For wildlife disease, they are particularly useful in evaluating vaccination or population management strategies in endangered species, for investigating spill-over in between wildlife and livestock/domestic animal species, and to understand the mechanisms driving transmission in data-poor settings (e.g. Jolles, Gorsich et al. 2021, Gilbertson et al. 2022). Our team at the Zeeman Institute at University of Warwick has…
experience integrating models and field data to understand how wildlife disease spread and persist on ecological and evolutionary timescales.
We are looking to recruit a PhD student in the areas of disease ecology, mathematical and evolutionary ecology. Topics available include: (i) ecological and evolutionary dynamics of infectious diseases in natural bighorn sheep populations (Dugovich et al. 2021); (ii) multi-strain dynamics of foot-and-mouth disease virus in African buffalo (Jolles, Gorsich et al. 2021); and (iii) cross parasites or system comparisons. The questions addressed in this project are flexible and interested candidates are encouraged to discuss their ideas with Dr. Gorsich. The ideal candidate will be interested in developing data-driven models for real-world wildlife disease systems.
- Dugovich, B., et al. 2023. Population connectivity patterns of genetic diversity, immune responses, and exposure to infectious pneumonia in a metapopulation of desert bighorn sheep. J. Anim. Ecol. 92, 1456–1469.
- Gilbertson, M.L.J., et al. 2022. Paradoxes and synergies: Optimizing management of a deadly virus in an endangered carnivore. J. Appl. Ecol. 59. 1548-1558.
- Jolles, A*, Gorsich, E.*, et al. Endemic persistence of a highly contagious pathogen: foot-and-mouth disease in its wildlife host. Science. 374. 104-109.
