The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary principles that govern the spread of antibiotic resistance.

We are sampling and sequencing E. coli from a cohort of nursery children to generate a unique dataset on strain diversity and dynamics in the human gut. Your role in the project will be to infer fundamental aspects of E. coli ecology from these data: how strains compete within the gut and how this competition affects transmission from person to person. You will use these insights to develop mathematical models of antibiotic resistance in E. coli to help explain puzzling trends in resistance dynamics.

The position is supervised by Dr Sonja Lehtinen and funded by an SNF Prima grant. The Evolutionary Epidemiology group is part of the Theoretical Biology group, led by Prof. Sebastian Bonhoeffer. The group is friendly and collaborative, with people from diverse backgrounds working on a range of projects relating to microbial evolution and dynamics.

Your profile
The position is ideal for someone combining an interest in theory, real-world data and public health. Curiosity and an aptitude for learning are more important than specific background. Essential requirements are:

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills (MSc in a quantitative subject).
• Fluency in at least one programming language (e.g. R, Python, C++, Matlab).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

What we offer

• An exciting project working on a unique dataset in a friendly team and a great city.
• A supportive, stimulating and fun work environment with a strong culture of mentorship.
• Excellent resources for further learning and development at one of the world’s leading research universities.
• Plenty of opportunities for collaboration, attending scientific conferences and building your scientific network.