Opportunities

We are looking for Research Assistants for the 2023 Field Season! 

Seasonal Research Assistant

Columbia University, New York City

The Eco-epidemiology Lab at Columbia University has multiple positions for highly motivated Research Assistants (RAs) to assist with research and outreach activities for the 2023 field season on projects studying the eco-epidemiology of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases throughout the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island, NY. The overall goal of the project is to evaluate human exposure to vectors and the risk of disease in urban, suburban and exurban areas. The RA will assist our team with one or more of the following activities depending on their experience: online and in-person epidemiological surveys in greenspaces, public outreach and promotion of The Tick App, tick and host sampling in private and public properties. This position will provide strong training in conducting epidemiological assessments in a variety of settings, vector collection and identification, small mammal trapping, data management skills, and science communication. 

Primary responsibilities (one or more of):

●  Conduct online and in-person recruitment and surveys

●  Conduct ecological assessments of larger public spaces such as parks and preserves

●  Conduct tick surveys

●  Conduct small mammal surveys

●  Coordinate data collection and management of a field crew of 3-4 RAs

●  Public outreach activities (online and in-person), including preparing and distributing announcements and reports, attending public events, and updating social media.

Requirements: Applicants must have a keen interest in disease ecology/environmental health/epidemiology/public health, have strong leadership and communication skills and be highly organized with legible handwriting.

A valid U.S. driver’s licence and clean driving record is required and access to a personal car is strongly desirable.

Experience with tick or small mammal sampling and identification, as well as with public outreach are highly desirable but not required.

This will be a fieldwork-intensive position, so RAs should be capable of working in challenging environmental conditions (e.g. rain, heat, overgrowth, steep slopes, fog, vector-infested habitat etc.).

Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary and seasonal position beginning at the end of May and ending in August 2023; exact dates are somewhat negotiable. Depending on the assignment, work may be early morning or on weekends (park surveys).

Wages/Benefit : Transportation within the study area and field equipment will be provided; $21.50/hr with hours varying by week.

TO APPLY: Applications can be accessed online through the google form below. You will be required to provide a list of three professional references, as well as a cover letter outlining relevant field experience and a CV/resume. Please provide these in a single PDF document with your last name in the subject. Applications review will begin on April 1, 2023 and continue on a rolling basis.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.

Apply: https://forms.gle/yPT6iQe5ZFo6BPJs5

We are looking for Post-Docs and Associate Research Scientists! (2023)

Position Description

The Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B) at Columbia University invites applications for positions at the rank of Associate Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Research Scientist to contribute to transdisciplinary research on the ecological and social drivers of tick-borne diseases in the United States. The successful candidate will join the Eco-Epidemiology lab lead by Dr. Maria Diuk-Wasser (https://ecoepidemiologylab.e3b.columbia.edu) to support ongoing and new research initiatives to optimize tick-borne disease risk-reduction interventions.

The positions will focus on one or more of the following research areas: spatiotemporal modeling of eco-social determinants of tick-borne disease emergence in human-wildlife interfaces, evaluation and optimization of multiple tick, host, and human-targeted interventions, and development of decision support systems at multiple scales. The Postdoctoral Research Scientists/Associate Research Scientists will also interact with active projects on emerging (non-tick-borne) zoonotic pathogens in urban wildlife. The candidates will coordinate new initiatives as well as harness existing datasets from projects supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD), and private funding. The position is highly collaborative, including a network of vector biology and control experts, public health, social and behavioral scientists, economists, and infectious disease modelers. The platforms developed will enhance response capacity for vector-borne disease management.

Qualifications

The position requires a Ph.D. in ecology, epidemiology, economics, applied statistics, or a related quantitative field. Background in epidemiological modeling, population modeling, infectious disease and spatial modeling are highly desirable. A track record of research excellence is essential, as are excellent written and oral communication skills.

Application Instructions

All applications must be made through Columbia University’s Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR) system: http://apply.interfolio.com/120830

Applicants should submit a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for three reference providers who may be asked to upload letters of recommendation at a later stage in the search.

Salary Ranges

Associate Research Scientist $66100-$75000

Postdoctoral Research Scientist $60000-$65000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.  

Please contact Maria Diuk-Wasser if you have any questions: [email protected]

We are looking for MA and PhD Students!

We are looking for motivated students to apply to the Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department for our PhD and MA programs. If you are interested in joining the lab, please e-mail Maria Diuk-Wasser with your CV and a short statement on: a) your background and research interests; and b) how these interests align with the work of the lab (i.e., what aspect of vector-borne disease eco-epidemiology you would like to work on).