The Mordecai lab at Stanford University is recruiting a motivated undergraduate for a summer research internship on the ecology of vector-borne disease through the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The REU project will be part of a larger NSF Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases project to model effects of climate, land use, and socioeconomic conditions on vector-borne disease transmission. The project explores a range of diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Rift Valley fever, bluetongue, and others. More about the larger project can be found on NSF’s website: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=137712 http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1518681&HistoricalAwards=false
The REU student will develop an independent research project that can combine mathematical modeling with analysis of existing empirical data collected from the field and extracted from the literature. For example, the student could develop a mechanistic temperature-sensitive transmission model for Rift Valley fever, use statistical models to address environmental drivers of mosquito abundance and human chikungunya cases in the field, or develop new mathematical models for predicting disease outbreaks of Zika virus. The position will be based at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The student will have the opportunity to interact with other undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers in the Mordecai lab, at Stanford, and beyond. Start and end dates are flexible. The position runs for 13 weeks with a stipend of $7500. The ideal candidate will have a career interest in ecology, disease ecology, epidemiology, or public health research. A background in ecology, infectious disease biology, and mathematical modeling or quantitative methods is desired but not required. Applicants should send a CV, unofficial transcript, contact information for two references, and a one page statement about research interests, experience, and career goals to Erin Mordecai: [email protected]. Please include “REU position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin on March 14 and continue until the position is filled.
