The Cressler lab at the University of Nebraska is recruiting graduate students for Fall 2016. Our lab studies the ecology and evolution of infectious disease using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. Students interested in joining the lab will have the opportunity to develop a research program that is aligned with their own interests and expertise, whether in experimental or mathematical biology.
Current research in the lab uses the Daphnia-Pasteuria host-parasite system to study a number of related questions, including: - What are the ecological consequences of host manipulation by parasites? - How do ecological factors like host diet and temperature influence the evolution of parasite virulence? - What is the role of the host microbiome in mediating host-parasite specificity? There will also be opportunities for research exchanges with Dr. Stu Aulds lab at the University of Stirling in Scotland. We also use mathematical models to investigate the interaction between host resources, the immune system, and parasites, asking questions like: - How does host resource availability influence whether the immune response is directed towards parasite killing (resistance) versus damage limitation (tolerance)? - Are between-host dynamics different when parasites are limited more by within-host resource availability than by the immune system? - When does the interaction between within-host processes (e.g., the immune response) and between-host processes (e.g., transmission) give rise to self-reinforcing feedbacks, such as the negative spiral between malnutrition and infection? The School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska has a large, collaborative group of faculty and grad students working in ecology, evolution, and behavior (see the faculty listing at http://biosci.unl.edu/research-specializations). There are also a number of faculty in the math department that work in the area of mathematical biology (Drs. Deng, Jin, Ledder, and Rebarber). Students will be able to take advantage of this network of researchers to develop into dynamic, integrative scientists. Interested students should contact me directly at [email protected]. More information about this position and about research in the lab can be found at http://cressler.weebly.com. Further information about the application process, the department, the University, and life in Lincoln can be found at http://biosci.unl.edu/prospective-students.
