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PhD candidate "Output-based methods for the assessment of the freedom of animal disease" (1.0 FTE)


Job description

Several European countries have implemented national or regional surveillance, control, or eradication programmes for endemic infections of cattle with little or no regulation at EU level (non-regulated endemic diseases). Such programmes bring tangible benefits to participating farmers and national economies, and are to be strongly supported. However, they also create difficulties for intra-community trade, as free trade has the potential to allow the movement of infectious agents into regions free from the infection.


The STOC-FREE project was granted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and local public bodies with the scope to develop and validate a new framework (STOC-FREE: Surveillance Tool for Outcome-based Comparison of FREEdom from infection) that enables a transparent and standardised comparison of confidence of freedom for control programs of both non-regulated and regulated diseases in the EU. Initially, Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) will be used as an example disease. The international project is coordinated by Utrecht University and involves 8 partners from 6 countries (NL, FR, DE, IE, SE, UK). In this project, two PhD positions are offered, one at the Veterinary Faculty of Utrecht University in the Netherlands and one at Oniris, in Nantes, France. The work of the PhD students will be complementary and close collaboration is foreseen. To facilitate this collaboration a good knowledge of the English language, strong interpersonal skills and the willingness to work abroad are essential skills for the successful candidates.


The PhD student at Utrecht University will be responsible for the collection and analyses of data about control programs for BVDV in Europe. The PhD student at Oniris will develop the analytical methodology for an output-based, quantitative comparison of control programs. In an iterative process, the methodology will be applied by the PhD students on data from different BVDV control programs, leading to adaptation and final approval. For more specific information on the position at ONIRIS please look at this link


The PhD project at Utrecht University will have the following aims: 1) Develop a structured and generic protocol to describe control programmes for cattle diseases in the EU; 2) Apply the framework to determine the confidence of freedom of BVDV on animal, herd, sector and regional/national level in the Netherlands and other EU MS, 3) Evaluate the suitability of the developed framework to enable evaluation and optimisation of existing control programmes and 4) Apply the developed framework to other diseases e.g. BHV-1, Mycobacterium bovis, or paratuberculosis and determine the possibilities to generalize the developed framework for output-based comparison to a larger range of cattle diseases.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will preferably have a veterinary or animal science background, or will be a risk analyst with the capacity to grasp the epidemiology of infectious diseases in animal populations. Experience with modelling or risk analyses is favourable. Further, the successful candidate will have experience with conducting scientific research and analysis of data. We are looking for someone with good interpersonal skills, who likes to be part of a multidisciplinary and international team, but also can solve problems independently and creatively. Excellent communication and writing skills in English and the willingness to spend several months abroad are prerequisites.

Offer

Appointment is initially for a period of one year (1.0 FTE) with the perspective of extension with another three years, and should lead to a dissertation in four years. The PhD candidate will be allocated at the Department Farm Animal Health of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and will be supervised by Prof Dr Ir G. van Schaik (UU), Prof Dr M. Nielen (UU), Dr Ir I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends (GD), and Prof Dr S.J. More (UCD, Ireland).


The gross monthly salary for a fulltime appointment will range from € 2.191,- in the first year to € 2.801,- in the fourth year (P-scale of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities). Secondary benefits, based on the cao of Netherlands Universities, are excellent in general and include e.g. a pension scheme, flexible employment conditions, and salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8,3%. For further information: working at Utrecht University.

About the organization

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University (FVM-UU) is the only Veterinary School in the Netherlands and belongs to the international top in education, research and veterinary medical patient care. FVM-UU is one of the few European veterinary schools accredited by the American and Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education. The faculty employs approximately 900 veterinarians, scientists and support staff and counts 1.500 students. 


Additional information

Additional information about this vacancy, including a detailed project proposal, can be obtained from Prof Gerdien van Schaik (g.vanschaik@uu.nl /+31 (0)570 660352). Interviews are scheduled for March 15th 2017.


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The application deadline is
03/03/2017
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