PhD Studentship: AI-powered Insights into Susceptibility of Parrots to Viral Infection (CASE Project with Ebony Forest and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust / Jersey Zoo) University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[Fully-funded ARIES studentship covering tuition fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and a research training and support grant (RTSG). International applicants may have the fee difference waived, but relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.]

Project Overview: This fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the genetic and evolutionary factors influencing susceptibility of parrots to viral infections. The project is a CASE partnership with Ebony Forest and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust / Jersey Zoo, providing both academic and applied conservation experience.

Research Focus: The central question is what makes individual parrots resistant, tolerant, or susceptible (R/T/S) to viral epidemics, particularly in the context of population bottlenecks and genetic erosion. The project leverages over 20 years of viral outbreak data and hundreds of sequenced bird genomes, focusing on the Mauritius parakeet and other avian models. The student will develop AI models to predict viral response based on genomics data, conduct bioinformatic and comparative genomic analyses, and may participate in fieldwork in Mauritius.

Methodology: The research involves sequencing genomes of 531 full-sib pairs with known R/T/S status, funded by a NERC grant. The student will analyze immune genes, construct AI models to identify genomic predictors, and use SLiM modelling to study the impact of genome erosion on immunogenetic diversity and disease susceptibility. Hypotheses include the effects of genome erosion, inbreeding, and immune gene variation on viral susceptibility.

Training and Development: The student will receive training in AI and SLiM modelling, genomics, immune gene analysis, comparative genomics, and applied bird conservation. Optional tropical fieldwork in Mauritius is available.

Funding: The ARIES studentship covers full tuition, a maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and a research training and support grant. International applicants may have the fee difference waived, but relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not included.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 in Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, or Conservation Biology. Experience in coding (Python, SLiM), AI modelling, and evolutionary or conservation genetics/genomics is desirable. Good teamwork skills are essential. English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each category) is required.

Application Process: Apply online via the University of East Anglia postgraduate research portal by 7 January 2025. Prepare all supporting documents and check ARIES DTP and university websites for further details. Informal inquiries to the supervisor are encouraged.