We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to work on a research project funded by the National Center for Climate Services (NCCS, https://www.nccs.admin.ch) at the University of Bern. The overall aim of the project is to quantify the risk of vector-borne diseases in Switzerland with regards to scenarios of climate change. Under the supervision of Dr. Julien Riou and Dr. Ioannis Magouras, you will:

• Systematically collect information about vectors and vector-borne diseases that might be favored by climate change in Switzerland in the coming years, and about current and planned mitigation strategies at the cantonal, national and European level
• Gather data about the expected impact of climate change on all aspects relevant to the spread of vector-borne diseases (e.g. temperature, precipitation, human and animal demography, ecological niches) according to different scenarios, with a focus on diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes
• Create a model to integrate these data and quantify future risks associated with Aedes-borne diseases in 2030, 2040 and 2050 by area according to different scenarios
• Participate in the communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategy of the research output among stakeholders in Switzerland
• Write publications and present your results at international conferences

Qualifications and skills:
• Strong quantitative skills with a MSc degree in a relevant discipline (epidemiology, geography, data science or another related field)
• Good programming skills in R and/οr Python
• Experience with managing large and complex datasets
• Good oral and written communication in English

The PhD position is available immediately and funded for 3 years. The salary is according to the doctoral student scale of the Swiss National Science Foundation. The ISPM at the University of Bern offers an international, multidisciplinary, and highly stimulating environment. It encourages independence and flexible working models.

For further information about the project, please contact Dr. Julien Riou (julien.riou@ispm.unibe.ch) or Dr. Ioannis Magouras (ioannis.magouras@unibe.ch).

To apply for this position, send a letter explaining your current skills, skills that you would like to develop, and why you are suited to the post, together with your CV and contact information of two referees in one PDF file to Ms. Natalie Studer (hr@ispm.unibe.ch) with a copy to julien.riou@ispm.unibe.ch and ioannis.magouras@unibe.ch by 15 April 2022.