Research School of Environmental Chemistry, Microbiology and Toxicology (RECETO) Modeling helminth and protozoan parasite eggs in low quality water to be used for food production.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology wishes to appoint a Ph.D. fellow in Modeling helminth and protozoan parasite eggs in low quality water to be used for food production from 1 September 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job description
With reference to the project manager, the work of the Ph.D. fellow will consist mainly of duties in connection with research and development within Environmental Hygiene.
The appointee should have qualifications within the following areas:
- Parasitology
- Statistical analysis and modelling
- Environmental microbiology
- Water resources
The overall goal of this project is to establish models of the fate of helminth and protozoan parasite eggs in low quality water to be used for sustainable and safe food production. Fecal contaminated water of different types is increasingly used worldwide, in particular in southern Europe, northern Africa and certain parts of Asia, for irrigation in agriculture and horticulture. This is mainly due to increasing problems with water scarcity, limited availability of clear water, and competition between cities and agriculture on water. However, little is known about the sedimentation, transport and overall fate of parasite eggs in such water. One specific goal is to determine and assess the importance of key hydrologic and environmental factors affecting sedimentation, survival and infectivity of parasite eggs in low quality water, e.g. wastewater. Another is to establish new and further develop existing hydrologic models for the prediction of the fate of parasite eggs in low quality water.
The project will rely on existing methodologies from parasitology and environmental microbiology to determine the occurrence, survival and infectivity of parasites eggs in low quality water. Models developed by the DHI Water, Environment and Health and other relevant models will be used to develop new models for fate of parasite eggs in low quality water.
The Ph.D. student will be enrolled at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The project involves collaboration with research partners at both KU-Life, The DHI Water, Environment and Health and KU-Sund.
Qualification requirements
In connection with the appointment to the post special importance will be attached to the applicant having the professional and personal qualifications stated below:
The position will be appointed to a candidate with experience in one or more of the following areas: parasitology, environmental hygiene, and statistics/modeling. The candidate should be willing to spend stay(s) with foreign research partners. The Ph.D. fellow is also required to have research potential, to be enterprising and to possess good interpersonal skills.
Questions
For further information about the post, please contact Professor Anders Dalsgaard. on tel. (+45) 35 33 2720 or ad@life.ku.dk.
Application
The application should be submitted in 3 copies (sorted); therefore it is not possible to receive the application by e-mail. The application must include a reply e-mail address. Each application must include the following appendices marked with the stated appendix numbers:
- Appendix 1: curriculum vitae with documentation of education.
- Appendix 2: material required for expert assessment.
In addition to the material submitted by the applicant the Assessment Committee may require further material in its assessment of the applicant. In this case it is the responsibility of the applicant, on request, to send the material to the Committee.
Following processing of the application, any application material sent will be destroyed.
Receipt of the application will not be acknowledged, but the applicant will continuously be kept informed of the progress of the application.
The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Executive Order no. 92 of 15 February 2008.
The application, marked 625-92 should be sent to Cluster of Research Schools - Chemistry & Environment, The Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, where it must be received no later than 1 June 2008 at 12.00 noon. Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered.
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