Research Fellow in One Health

at  ZSL

ABOUT YOU

• A PhD in a relevant field
• Proven track records in managing research grants
• Publishing in the scientific literature and evidence of successful project development and leadership.
• Knowledge of disease ecology, biodiversity and One Health.
• This position will be office based but travel to meetings and to field sites in Central Asia and Africa will be required, during which time working extended hours and weekends may be required
• This post will require outside working with direct exposure to the weather and to animals.
  This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work in the UK.
  We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.

ABOUT US

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To lead and develop two of the Institute of Zoology’s One Health research projects, each of which is embedded within a wider consortium of partner organisations. One project, initially funded for five years, is to investigate whether protected areas in Central Asia impact on zoonotic disease occurrence or the risk of pathogen spillover from wildlife. The second project, which is initially funded until November 2030, is to develop One Health approaches to support biodiversity conservation in the West Congo Basin. Each project has dedicated funding for a PDRA, which the successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in the recruitment of. The post holder will be provided with academic and technical support and will be expected to take the lead in running these projects as the current PI moves to working part-time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The job holder will be expected to: develop collaborations with existing and new project partners; participate in grant partnership meetings; manage project staff and recruit and co-supervise post-graduate students in the UK and in the target countries; produce high quality peer-reviewed scientific publications and conservation impacts. Other main duties will include: working with collaborators to develop work plans; identifying research needs; conducting in-country capacity building; identifying additional funding opportunities; recruiting and supervising post-graduate students; analysing data; disseminating the results through high quality scientific publications, reports, conference proceedings and various types of media.