Research Fellow

**About the role**



Diarrhoeal disease remains a major cause of child morbidity, growth faltering
and mortality in low and middle income countries (LMICs), with _Campylobacter_
among the most common causes. The major infection sources in the UK include
contaminated food, but transmission routes in LMICs are unknown. This means
that transmission among the children at highest risk (85% infected before 1yr
in LMICs) is the least studied. House crowding, cohabitation with animals and
poor sanitation/food safety are all potential risk factors, but effective
interventions depend upon quantitative estimates of infection sources.





The epidemiology of campylobacteriosis is poorly understood in LMICs. In pilot
studies, we have identified genomic variation in strains that may indicate
differences in source, survival, transmission and virulence (compared to the
UK). In particular, we have identified globally and locally distributed
strains, evidence of within household spread and strains associated with
asymptomatic infection and infection with other enteropathogens. Genome
sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis provide a means for
explaining these cryptic disease networks by identifying differences between
strains from multiple sources, and tracking their transmission.





Building on an established collaborative network in the UK and Africa (The
Gambia, Ghana, Burkina Faso), the post holder will support a program of
globalized _Campylobacter_ NGS surveillance. Specifically, (i) sampling and
genome sequence isolates from animals, food, environmental sources and people
(symptomatic, asymptomatic, and matched cases and controls); (ii) developing
open-access databases and novel analysis pipelines (association study and
machine learning) to characterize _Campylobacter_ population structure and
identify source attribution markers; (iii) quantifying the relative
contribution of different human infection sources. This evidence-based
approach will enable effective local public health and policy interventions
and focus efforts to reducing the burden of diarrhoeal disease in Africa.





**About you**



We seek an enthusiastic new colleague who holds a relevant PhD/DPhil, together
with relevant experience. It is essential that you have previous experience





**How to apply**



Applications for this vacancy are to be made online via our e-recruitment
system, and should include the application letter, a CV, a list addressing the
job criteria, and names of two academic references. Where Covid-19 has
resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please
explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting
statement.





The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All
applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.





This post is a 6-month fixed term, full time position and is available from 01
May 2024.





The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 24th April 2024





For further inquiries, please contact Samuel Sheppard
samuel.sheppard@biology.ox.ac.uk