The Ryan lab (https://sadieryan.net) at the University of Florida is recruiting a motivated undergraduate for an NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer research internship in Medical Geography and Disease Ecology, in spatial ecology of vector-borne disease. The REU project is 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 (http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=137712). 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.
The ideal candidate will have a career interest in spatial modeling, GIS, disease ecology, epidemiology, or public health research. A background in geography, ecology, infectious disease biology, and mathematical modeling or quantitative methods is desired but not required. Spanish speaking/reading is a plus. Applicants must be in bachelor’s program (undergraduate), with a graduation date AFTER September 2017. Desired qualifications include: • Experience with statistical analysis, particularly in R • Database management, analysis and manipulation • GIS coursework and experience The successful candidate will have access to several primary datasets of entomological and epidemiological data from a long-term field site in Southern Ecuador, and will have the option of designing an independent geospatial analysis project, and/or participating in team projects with lab members. This position will be based at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, hosted jointly in the Geography Department and the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI). The student will thus have the opportunity to interact with multiple students and faculty working on spatially explicit health questions, across a broad spectrum of disciplines. 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 Sadie Ryan sjr...@ufl.edu. Please include “REU position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin on May 15 and continue until the position is filled. This position carries a stipend to cover all expenses, and will be paid as an hourly position through the University of Florida.
