ACCE+ DLA programme: Environmental drivers of tick-borne pathogen exposure in southern African wildlife

Wildlife mass mortality events worldwide such as the elephant mortalities of 2020 highlight the importance of understanding how environmental factors influence patterns of exposure to pathogens and drive outbreaks of disease. They also highlight how little we know about these systems and how disease outbreaks can rapidly undermine conservation efforts. Recently, tick-borne disease has come under the spotlight in Southern Africa, where changes in patterns of exposure, vector abundance, and/or host vulnerability have resulted severe outbreaks in both livestock and wildlife.

This project will identify environmental drivers associated with exposure of wild ungulates to tick-borne pathogens in Northern Botswana. This will have important implications for wildlife, conservation and natural resource management policy, providing baseline data and allowing future policy decisions to consider potential disease impacts.

We propose that the student will first optimize serological assays for tick-borne pathogen exposure, then travel to the Okavango Research Institute, Botswana, to apply the assays to wild ungulate samples held in their biobank. These data, combined with paired tick pathobiome data from the same wild animals, will be used to develop machine learning models to identify drivers of exposure, and predict the future impacts of environmental change on exposure patterns. Results will be cascaded to the public and policy-makers in Botswana via CASE partner Elephants for Africa’s communications channels and outreach activities. The student will also complete a placement with Elephants for Africa, either based at their camp in Botswana, or remotely, dependent on the student’s preference.

The student will join a welcoming extended research group of over 25 staff and students with a range of backgrounds, nationalities, and research interests. They will learn a broad range of skills including laboratory-based assays, machine learning modelling, statistical methods, and communicating science effectively. They will also develop expertise in parasitology, GIS, programming, conservation biology, and mammalian behavioural ecology.

How to Apply

Please see the ACCE website for all details of how to apply to the programme at each ACCE+ institution: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply/. 

All applicants to ACCE+ must complete the ACCE+ personal statement proforma. This is instead of a personal/supporting statement or cover letter. The proforma is designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. Candidates should also submit a CV and the contact details of two referees.

Part-Time Study Options

All ACCE+ PhDs are available as part time or full time, with part time being a minimum of 50% of full time. Please discuss potential part time arrangements with the primary supervisor before applying to the programme. 

Project CASE Status

This project is a CASE project. Your project will be co-supervised by the non-academic partner organisation, and you will spend 3-6 months on a placement with your CASE partner in their workplace. You will experience training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting, and will build business and research collaborations.

Candidate webinar

The project primary supervisor will hold a candidate Zoom webinar in December 2024 to discuss the project with interested candidates. Please register here if you wish to join!