The selected applicant will join a research group focused on the epidemiology of transboundary animal diseases, integrating approaches such as traditional spatiotemporal statistics for mapping disease  spread and forecasting disease emergence in animal and human populations. The student will be actively involved in an ongoing project for which a large dataset has already been collected (disease occurrences, whole genomes, network of swine movements between farms); the main goal of this research is to develop flexible spatial and spatiotemporal models of swine disease spread while considering the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of the virus and the observed contact network of related farms. The student will be encouraged to develop research questions and a project tailored to their unique interests and career goals.

The Center for Geospatial Analytics at NC State is an internationally recognized hub for interdisciplinary data scientists pushing the boundaries of spatial data science to advance discovery and inform real-world decision-making.Students in the Ph.D. program receive multidisciplinary advising and the opportunity to work with over thirty  faculty fellows with diverse expertise from over  a dozen departments across NC State. Students also engage in experiential learning through an off-campus professional internship.

To apply, complete the application at grad.ncsu.edu/apply. Applicants should hold a degree in ecology, epidemiology, applied mathematics, computer science, spatial statistics or a related quantitative discipline. Experience with programming in R, Python, or a similar open-source platform, as well as previous publishing experience, is desired.

The application deadline is 1 February 2020

For more information about the position, contact Dr. Gustavo Machado and include a copy of your CV. Additional details about the Ph.D. program in Geospatial Analytics and complete application instructions are available at go.ncsu.edu/geospatial-phd. Interested students are also encouraged to contact Rachel Kasten, Graduate Services Coordinator, with questions about the program or to explore additional opportunities.