We are currently recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for the project ‘Emerging Zoonoses in Wildlife: Understanding the Ecology, Transmission and Impacts of Brucella and Erysipelothrix for Conservation and Food Security in the Changing Arctic’, funded by Canada-Inuit Nunangat-United Kingdom Arctic Research Programme (CINUK). The Arctic is experiencing unprecedented climate change, resulting in multiple interconnected challenges for the wellbeing of northern communities. Among these is disease emergence, including those that affect both animals and people. Two important bacterial zoonoses have recently emerged in Inuit Nunangat which pose serious risks to the sustainability of muskox and caribou populations upon which communities depend. Moreover, they represent a public health risk for those handling or consuming country foods. Using a multi-pronged approach, we aim to bring together Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Indigenous knowledge) and western knowledge to gain a better understanding of these diseases and how they are impacted by climate change, and then use this knowledge to protect human health and inform wildlife management. The main objectives of the project are to 1) understand why these diseases have increased; 2) understand and predict what risk they pose to people and animals; and 3) develop mitigation strategies to protect human health and conserve wildlife for generations to come. Ultimately, this project will increase capacity at the community level to detect and respond to emerging wildlife diseases; increase food security and safety; generate data to promote the wildlife sustainability; and contribute to the translation and dissemination of Indigenous knowledge and its integration into research.

The successful candidate will work with Dr Taya Forde, University of Glasgow, UK, in collaboration with Inuit community organisations and researchers from the University of Calgary, Canada (Prof Susan Kutz, Dr Rita Henderson) and Queen’s University Belfast (Prof Eric Morgan). We are looking for someone with skills in molecular diagnostics, genomics/bioinformatics and/or with field experience. The ideal candidate will have excellent inter-personal and collaborative skills, demonstrated cultural sensitivity, as well as perseverance and organisation. The candidate will be expected to spend approximately 4-6 weeks per year working with collaborators in Calgary and in the Arctic (including field work, lab work and knowledge exchange activities).

This post is full time with funding up to 1 May 2025.