Research Fellow

Diarrhoeal disease remains a major cause of child morbidity, growth faltering and mortality in low and middle income countries (LMICs), with Campylobacter among the most common causes. The major infection sources in the UK include contaminated food, but transmission routes in LMICs are unknown. This means that transmission among the children at highest risk (85% infected before 1yr in LMICs) is the least studied.

House crowding, cohabitation with animals and poor sanitation/food safety are all potential risk factors, but effective interventions depend upon quantitative estimates of infection sources.

The epidemiology of campylobacteriosis is poorly understood in LMICs. In pilot studies, we have identified genomic variation in strains that may indicate differences in source, survival, transmission and virulence (compared to the UK). In particular, we have identified globally and locally distributed strains, evidence of within household spread and strains associated with asymptomatic infection and infection with other enteropathogens. Genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analysis provide a means for explaining these cryptic disease networks by identifying differences between strains from multiple sources, and tracking their transmission.

Building on an established collaborative network in the UK and Africa (The Gambia, Ghana, Burkina Faso), the post holder will support a program of globalized Campylobacter NGS surveillance. Specifically,

• sampling and genome sequence isolates from animals, food, environmental sources and people (symptomatic, asymptomatic, and matched cases and controls);
• developing open-access databases and novel analysis pipelines (association study and machine learning) to characterize Campylobacter population structure and identify source attribution markers;
• quantifying the relative contribution of different human infection sources. This evidence-based approach will enable effective local public health and policy interventions and focus efforts to reducing the burden of diarrhoeal disease in Africa.

We seek an enthusiastic new colleague who holds a relevant PhD/DPhil, together with relevant experience. It is essential that you have previous experience

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

This post is a 6-month fixed term, full time position and is available from 01 May 2024.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 24th April 2024

For further inquiries, please contact Samuel Sheppard samu