Position title: Bioinformatician – Zoonotic Malaria
Employer: Menzies School of Health Research
Closing date: Sept 27, 2020
Brief position description: The Bioinformatician position will collaboratively work with and be supervised through the recently expanded Menzies GTH genomics/bioinformatics group, in addition to an international team of co-investigators at James Cook University (JCU) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute to examine zoonotic malaria transmission in Indonesia and Malaysia. This role will be part of a successful NHMRC funded project entitled ‘Parasite and human genetic risk factors for emerging Plasmodium knowlesi malaria’. The project will develop and modify appropriate genomic tools to use cutting-edge approaches to simultaneously explore parasite, host and host-parasite interactions, aiming to identify novel P. knowlesi and human loci underlying the risk of infection and disease. In addition, regional P. knowlesi population genetic analyses will explore the factors contributing to the complex and evolving dynamics of zoonotic malaria transmission. The proposed research activities are the culmination of years of fieldwork and an unprecedented number of samples, including detailed clinical phenotypes and a broad array of potentially integrative datasets involving geospatial land-types, ecological, and mosquito vector co-variates.
The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting in the design, implementation and data analysis of the above study, including engagement with relevant project scientists, post-graduate students, and key stakeholders. They will also be encouraged to pursue independent research interests/projects, including opportunities through the following current projects: (a) ‘Evaluating zoonotic malaria transmission between agricultural activities and agricultural and forestry land use in Indonesia (ZOOMAL)’ (b) State-wide human surveillance of P. knowlesi malaria in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and, (c) the Malaysian Armed Forces cohort study (ZOMAC) also conducted in Sabah.
The position is based in Darwin, with extended time in Cairns at JCU, and the potential for time at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK. Opportunities for mentoring and networking with others outside the Northern Territory working in relevant genomics programs will be fostered by relevant supervisors, including through formal post-doctoral support and mentoring programs at Menzies. Interstate and international travel may be required.
Job website: http://careers.menzies.edu.au/job-details/query/Bioinformatician+-+Zoonotic+Malaria/in/Northern+Territory/7950310/
Contact name: Matt Field
Contact email: matt.field@jcu.edu.au