We will conduct a nationwide prospective case-control study with nested sub-studies to investigate source attribution and work-place attitudes. This study will take a multidisciplinary approach capitalising on our extensive network of national stakeholders in industry and public health across New Zealand. The ultimate goal of this study is to guide effective interventions to help reduce the increasing burden of leptospirosis in New Zealand. We are looking for a scientist who is developing their independent thinking, is interested and informed about disease at the human-animal interface, wants to learn new skills or tools and can connect with patients, general practitioners, and medical officers of health. Patients are often rural based and in farming/meat working occupations, interviewing will be by telephone with a subset involving detailed face to face meetings in their homes.

The successful candidate will have an Honour’s degree in a relevant discipline or a medical or veterinary qualification and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as epidemiology, social science, microbiology, molecular biology, applied statistics etc.

Operational research funding with stipend is available from the New Zealand Health Research Council for a PhD studentship based at the School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand commencing 3 September 2018.