PhD position in wildlife health (f/m/d)
- Research group
- Ecology and Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases
- Hiring date
- As soon as possible
- Time limit
- The contract will initially run for 3 years
- Trial period
- 6 months
- Payment
- alike E13 TVöD Bund (65%)
- Application deadline
- 11/05/2025
The Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) located in Greifswald, aims to explore links between human, animal, and environmental health. Our goal is to generate a better understanding of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and the evolution of pathogens, critical cornerstones for ultimately developing pandemic preparedness and prevention.
HIOH maintains a long-term partnership with the Taï Chimpanzee Project, which conducts research on and conservation of wild chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Côte d’Ivoire (https://www.taichimpproject.org).
We are looking for a veterinarian (f/m/d) with a strong interest in animal pathology and wildlife health. Besides data and sample collection and in depth investigation of specific pathogens for the PhD the candidate will support the long-term health monitoring of TCP and simultaneously contribute to train park rangers and other staff in wildlife mortality monitoring and safe sampling.
The candidate will work in close partnership with a colleague from Côte d’Ivoire for field and laboratory work to be mainly performed in country. The position is embedded in the EU-funded project “ZooSursy” (https://rr-africa.woah.org/en/projects/zoo-sursy-project-enhancing-zoonotic-disease-surveillance-in-africa/) and thus part of a larger interdisciplinary project that aims at sustainable capacity building, strengthening wildlife and livestock surveillance and pandemic preparedness for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in Africa.
The work will be mainly performed in Cote d’Ivoire as it will include longer stretches of field work (up to a year) in which the PhD will live at the research station within Taï National Park. It also entails in-country training activities and laboratory work. Laboratory work and data analyses in Germany will be performed at the HIOH in Greifswald.
Tasks
- In depth investigation of the source of zoonotic pathogens such as mpox virus and anthrax using wild primates as sentinels
- Health surveillance on primates and other mammals, collection of necropsy samples, fecal and urine samples for pathogen analysis for our long-term health monitoring program
- Training of park rangers and local assistants in sample and data collection
- Communication with local health authorities
Prerequisites
- A veterinary degree or a degree in animal pathology is conditional
- Willingness to spend longer stretches of time (up to one year) in remote areas under simple conditions
- Resilience against stress
- The ability to work independently
- Ability to work in a team
- Good French (oral) and English (oral and written) language skills are mandatory (German language skills are not needed)
Working hours
19,5 hours per week
We offer you:
- Unique opportunity to perform a PhD on an exotic topic in a tropical rainforest
- An exciting, varied job in a future-oriented research institute within an international scientific environment
- Extensive support for the development of technical and transferable skills
- Programs for the development of professional knowledge and personal skills
- Extensive training and continuing education opportunities to develop professional knowledge and personal skills
- Participation in Zoosursy trainings
- DO IT doctoral program & Welcome office
- A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities
- Flexible working hours, part-time models
- A family office to support family and career as well as childcare offers
- Interesting additional public service benefits
People with severe disabilities and equivalent professional qualifications who are suitable for the position are given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable reference to the existence of a degree of severe disability in your cover letter or resume.
The position is held at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH (HZI) in Braunschweig. The place of employment is Greifswald.
The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men. The position is suitable for part-time work.
How to apply:
When sending us your application documents, please confirm that you have read our privacy policy and that you agree to the processing of your personal data. Please use the text module in our privacy policy for this purpose. Without these declarations we cannot consider or process your application and will immediately delete any application documents already received after the application deadline.
Please include a cover letter, resume, (employment) references, certificates, and (if available) work samples or reference projects with your application materials. Please refrain from sending a photo.
Please send your complete application, quoting the reference number 126/2025, to the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH, Human Resources Department, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany or by e-mail. If you send your application in electronic form, please provide a summary in one single (1) pdf document.
We look forward to receiving your application!
