Med. vet. PhD student 100 %

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Tasks

We are offering a veterinary medicine dissertation within the framework of an interdisciplinary research project at the interface between vector entomology, veterinary medicine and nature conservation. Title: Amphibian waters as potential breeding sites of biting midges.
Biting midges (Culicoides) are small, blood-sucking insects that can transmit various pathogens, including Bluetongue virus and Shamonda-like virus. These viruses can cause significant health and economic damage in livestock. To protect endangered amphibians, new ponds and small bodies of water are being created in Switzerland. However, little is known so far about whether these waters simultaneously represent suitable breeding sites for biting midges and could thereby increase the risk of pathogen transmission to livestock.
The goal of the project is to investigate the significance of amphibian waters as potential breeding sites of biting midges and to record possible connections between amphibian conservation, biting midge occurrence and the risk of vector-borne animal diseases. The results should contribute to better understanding possible conflicts of interest between nature conservation and animal health and to developing scientifically sound recommendations for practice.

Specific tasks:

• Conducting field studies on agricultural holdings and at nearby amphibian waters in Switzerland.
• Recording the frequency and species diversity of biting midges using traps.
• Taking soil samples to investigate the occurrence of Culicoides larvae using molecular biological methods.
• Recording amphibian species diversity in and around the investigated waters.
• Investigating collected biting midges for relevant pathogens.
• Evaluation of the collected data to assess possible connections between water characteristics, amphibian diversity and biting midge occurrence.
• Support in teaching courses of the Institut für Parasitologie.

The work includes regular sampling in the field, the morphological identification of biting midges, molecular biological laboratory work (e.g., PCR) as well as the statistical evaluation of the collected data.

We offer:

• A dedicated, interdisciplinary research team.
• Varied field and laboratory work.
• A well-equipped laboratory and a motivating research environment.
• Close scientific supervision.
• Practice-relevant research project at the interface between nature conservation and animal health.

Profile

• Completed studies in veterinary medicine.
• Interest in field work, microscopic and molecular biological investigations.
• Independent, careful and well-organized way of working.
• Enjoyment of teamwork and interdisciplinary cooperation.
• Willingness to participate in teaching.
• Good German and English skills.
• Driver's license category B.
• Initial experience with field work, molecular biological methods and statistical data analysis is an advantage.