Post-doctoral Fellowship available - Precision Public Health, Durban, South Africa


We invite applications from ambitious post doctoral scientists, to undertake research in a Flagship programme of the UKZN and the MRC in Durban, South Africa. This Fellowship aims to generate large geographically indexed HIV, TB and cancer datasets in South Africa. The fellow will apply advanced geospatial analysis techniques and molecular epidemiology and geographical analysis techniques to identify “hotspots” in space-time and describe the characteristics of HIV, TB and HPV transmission networks and its impact on the development of cancer.

These results will be combined with detailed demographic information in order to identify patterns of inter- and intra-community transmission in the study populations. This project has three clear aims: i) To determine the epidemiologic and genetic characteristics of HIV, TB and cancer strains found within known incidence “hotspots”; ii) To identify strain-specific geographical clusters and (iii) To characterize the socio-demographic, behavioral and geographic attributes. The post-doc and PhD student will interact with a team of trans-disciplinary researchers and will receive hands-on training in Bioinformatics and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. He/she will also be mentored by leading scientists, who commonly publish in some of of the top journals of the field (i.e. Science, Nature, NEJM and Lancet). We are looking for geographers, bioinformaticians, statisticians, epidemiologists, social scientists and/or phylogeneticists with great potential.

Postdoctoral Fellows will be awarded a well paid tax-free fellowship in South African currency for up to 3 years. Once appointed, the successful candidates will be supported to apply for externally funded personal fellowships and grants. The positions are based at superb facilities in Durban, although flexibility exists for time in South Africa and abroad. Interested applicants send an application, which should contain a CV and a motivation letter (max. 500 words) by 28 February 2019 to Mrs. Gugulethu Mkhize Email: MkhizeG5@ukzn.ac.za, Tel: 031 260 4198

 

News date: 2019-01-06

Links:

http://www.krisp.org.za/manuscripts/PostDocUKZNPrecisionPublicHealth2019.pdf