The University of Twente wishes to increase the number of women in the faculty to have a more balanced staff profile. During all phases of the selection process, we will therefore prioritize selecting women who fit the profile.
Your tasks
Vector-borne diseases are typically transmitted by arthropods via blood meals on different hosts. Humans and animals can be both source and sink, but also other organisms can serve as sources. In face of global change, especially climate change, vector-borne diseases have been emerging increasingly during the last few decades. For example, mosquito-vectored diseases such as the Zika epidemic in Latin America or the emergence of West Nile virus in Europe and North America or the expansion of tick-vectored diseases around the world, such as Lyme, tick-borne encephalitis in Europe, or Tick Borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in different parts of the world.
The circulation and distribution of diseases are driven by a range of factors (e.g. the environment, host or pathogen) and how they interact in space and time. Spatial data science methods and geospatial technologies can be used to assess how the vector or diseases are circulating, where changes are taking place and how diseases may be diffusing and evolving. By integrating different geographies we can explore what may be driving patterns of disease and changes in these patterns.
You will investigate the potential spatio-temporal transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases in changing environments. You will also be combining spatial data science and health to better understand how the distribution of vector-borne diseases may change over time. You will use a variety of statistical, machine learning and geo visualization and spatial analysis methods to map and model diseases over space and time. This may also require the development of new geo computational methods or tools to integrate different types of data, visualize outputs and determine changes in risk over time.
YOUR PROFILE
- An MSc degree in the field of geospatial sciences, remote sensing, ecology or health sciences, phylogenetic, or a related discipline;
- A background in spatial and/or epidemiological modelling, preferably related to disease modelling and diffusion (e.g. machine learning or statistics);
- An interest in both qualitative and quantitative research
- Good (scientific) writing skills
- Good English conversation, writing, and presentation skills
- Good communication skills related to working in interdisciplinary environments
- Knowledge and/or interest in tick- or mosquito-borne diseases is an advantage
OUR OFFER
- An inspiring multidisciplinary, international and academic environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda
- Full-time position for 4 years
- A professional and personal development programme within Twente Graduate School
- Gross monthly salary of € 2,770.- in the first year that increases to € 3,539.- in the fourth year
- A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%
- Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development
- A solid pension scheme
- A total of 41 holiday days per year in case of full-time employment
- Excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment, and a green and lively campus.
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
For more information about the position, you can contact Dr Yanchao Cheng (email: y.cheng-1@utwente.nl) or Prof Justine Blanford (email: j.i.blanford@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.
Please submit your applicationbefore 1 February 2024. Your application should include:
- A motivation letter (maximum 2 pages of A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications and motivation to apply for this position
- Curriculum Vitae (including contact information for at least two academic references)
- An academic transcript of BSc and MSc education, including grades and a short description of your last large result (MSc thesis/final project report/EngD thesis)
1st round interviews will be scheduled in the second half of February (if possible) or the first half of March 2024. A possible 2nd round interview will be scheduled when/if needed in April.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Earth Observation Science (EOS) is engaged in education, research and capacity building on earth observation, image analysis and geo-health. The department develops and applies methods for the extraction of large scale geo-information from airborne and terrestrial sensors. It holds expertise in laser scanning technology, sensor integration, point cloud processing, scene understanding and 3D landscape and building modelling. The expertise of the department covers spatial statistics, image analysis, deep learning, monitoring and data integration. Geo-health relates the dynamics of diseases to the geo context. This is done by modelling the spread of diseases and their explanatory variables and includes the understanding of the emergence of diseases at various scales.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation. Our mission is capacity development, where we apply, share and facilitate the effective use of geo-information and earth observation knowledge and tools for tackling global wicked problems. Our purpose is to enable our many partners around the world to track and trace the impact – and the shifting causes and frontiers – of today’s global challenges. Our vision is of a world in which researchers, educators, and students collaborate across disciplinary and geographic divides with governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutes, businesses, and local populations to surmount today’s complex global challenges and to contribute to sustainable, fair, and digital societies.
