The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is a world-leading institute in global health with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Associated with the University of Basel, Swiss TPH combines research, education and services at local, national and international levels. 950 people from 95 nations work at Swiss TPH focusing on infectious and non-communicable diseases, environment, society and health as well as health systems and interventions.

The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) investigates distribution and causes of infections and non-communicable diseases. To understand and promote the well-being of people in different cultural and environmental contexts, EPH applies various methods ranging from anthropology and social science to biostatistics and mathematical modelling as well as observational cohorts with biobanks.

The Disease Modelling Unit (DM) develops and uses approaches in computational sciences, statistics and mathematical modelling to understand and address contemporary issues in infectious diseases and global health, primarily in malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

The Disease Modelling Unit of EPH is currently looking for:

3 Senior Scientists or Postdoctoral Scientists in infectious disease modelling (80-100%)

We are seeking 3 senior scientists or postdoctoral scientists for exciting opportunities to develop and implement disease and vector biology models to support decision making in health. There are many open questions in understanding animal and vector behaviour, and estimating the impact of new and current control interventions for the control and elimination of malaria, that can only be answered through quantitative analysis, disease modelling and simulation.
The successful candidate will join, and collaborate within, a multidisciplinary team within Swiss TPH and external partners, to provide evidence to global decision-makers, funders and product developers.
Although the core skillset needed for the 3 positions is similar, the focus of the research and the responsibilities are varied. Please specify which position(s) you would like to apply for and your ordered preference (if applying for more than one) and expand on this in your motivation letter:

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR POSITION 1 (CORE MALARIA MODELLING):

Applying mathematical and statistical modelling and simulation to improve understanding of malaria dynamics, help the development of novel interventions, and improve implementation strategies of current and novel interventions to reduce malaria transmission and disease burden, with a focus on vector control interventions. Tasks can include:

• Developing, calibrating and analysing mosquito and malaria models
• Analysing entomological and epidemiological field data (including data from randomized control trials)
• Running, aggregating and analysing results of large simulation experiments using individual-based models
• Interacting with external malaria modelling groups and epidemiological and entomological research partners
• Travel to conferences and partner field sites
  
  
  YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR POSITION 2 (MALARIA AND CLIMATE VARIABILITY) INCLUDE:
  
  Applying mathematical and statistical modelling and simulation to improve understanding of the relationship between climate, malaria control interventions and malaria incidence. Tasks can include:

• Developing and improving climate-dependent models of malaria transmission and intervention efficacy.
• Calibrating models to malaria intervention coverage and incidence data from Kenya, Senegal and Ethiopia.
• Running, aggregating and analysing results of large simulation experiments using individual-based models
• Interacting with project partners, including epidemiologists, entomologists, disease modellers and climatologists.
• Travel to partner sites in the 3 countries above, project workshops in Italy and conferences
  
  
  
  YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR POSITION 3 (DOG MOVEMENT AND HEALTH) INCLUDE:
  
  Applying mathematical and statistical modelling and simulation to determine the role of free-roaming dogs in the spread and persistence of infectious diseases in dogs. Tasks can include:

• Developing new models of local and regional dog movement and individual-based contact network models of canine disease transmission of dogs.
• Calibrating models to diverse data sets including data on dog locations and contact patterns, and serological data on infection status, genetic data on dog relatedness, and human behavioural data on dog movement (from Chad, Uganda, India and Indonesia).
• Analysing and conducting simulation experiments of models.
• Interacting with project partners, including experts in veterinary and social sciences, epidemiology, mathematical modelling and population genetics.
• Travel to partner sites in the 4 countries above and conferences

Meet our diverse staff members

In their native language, Swiss TPH employees talk about what motivates them in their daily work.