Call for a PhD position in disease risk mapping (4 years) – Namur, Belgium

University faculty : Sciences
Department : Department of Geography
Grade : researcher
Contract : fixed term contract
Category : scientific personnel
Allocation : External funds

Responsibilities

Description

A 4-years PhD position is open at the Department of Geography of the University of Namur to work on malaria risk mapping in sub-Saharan Africa, a project funded by the F.R.S-FNRS (www.frs-fnrs.be).

Background and context

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined malaria incidence reduction as a target (SDG indicator 3.3.3) and huge efforts have been made these last decades to control the disease. However, deaths caused by malaria were still estimated at 409,000 in 2019, with almost 94% of those deaths registered in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and nearly all caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Disease risk maps can greatly help in the fight against malaria as they support improved decision-making by enabling better targeting malaria interventions, especially in limited-resource settings. However, existing maps are often not detailed and precise enough to be efficiently used in decision making. At the same time, the quantity and quality of data on both disease outcomes (malaria prevalence) and disease determinants (human and environmental risk factors) have considerably evolved over the last decades and are expected to significantly improve malaria risk maps at the national and sub-national levels.

The main goals of this research project are to combine various disease determinants (environmental factors driving vector habitat suitability and human factors driving exposure, vulnerability and dispersion) in order to develop an integrated malaria risk modelling approach. The project aims to harness the potential of remote sensing and spatial modelling at different spatial and temporal scales to improve the spatial understanding of malaria risk, especially in highly heterogeneous and rapidly changing urban-rural transition zones of sub-Saharan Africa.

Profile

• You hold a MSc degree in geography, quantitative ecology, biostatistics, public health, or a related scientific discipline;
• You have experience in the use of geomatics (GIS, remote sensing) and quantitative analytical techniques;
• You are highly motivated to undertake fundamental academic research in an international context;
• You demonstrate good interpersonal and organizational skills, with attention to detail, to interact with other project partners and stakeholders;
• You have good (scientific) communication skills in English;
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

Additional information

Prof. Catherine LINARD: catherine.linard@unamur.be

Remarks

Application

Applications should include:

• A letter of motivation (1 page max.),
• A CV,
• A digital copy of your master thesis and publication(s) (if applicable),
• Copies of academic degrees documents and transcript of records,
• A list of two academic referees with email contact information.

Applications should be sent to catherine.linard@unamur.be before 19th April 2022 at 12:00.

Pre-selected candidates will be interviewed in the first half of May and the successful candidate should be ready to start his/her PhD on July 1, 2022.