Marine Harvest – PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology Sought

Marine Harvest Ireland wishes to recruit a PhD student in Veterinary Epidemiology (aquaculture) to investigate the role of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) in Irish salmonid aquaculture. The PhD project will be managed by a small steering group which will consist of representatives from Marine Harvest (Ireland); the Marine Institute; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (CVERA) at UCD and two internationally recognised experts in the area of fish health. Prof. Simon More from CVERA will be the main PhD supervisor.

The successful candidate will be responsible for reviewing the role of IPN in aquaculture, in addition to elucidating the following questions:

• Why IPN has emerged as a significant health issue for sea-reared salmon in Ireland, over the past few years?
• Why the number of isolations of the non-virulent “house-strain” of IPNV in Ireland has decreased over time concurrent with a steady increase in the number of isolations of the virulent strain?
• What are the likely transmission routes of the virulent strain?
• What are the risk factors for the persistence of this virus in Ireland, with particular reference to valuable Broodstock selection programmes?
• Whether cost-effective mitigation measures can be put in place to minimise the impact of this disease on the Irish aquaculture industry?

For further information please download the full job description here (Word.doc 47KB)

Potential candidates are invited to submit a letter of application and CV to Catherine McManus, Marine Harvest Ireland, Rinmore, Fanad, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal or email to catherine.mcmanus@marineharvest.com

The closing date for receipt of applications is 19th October 2012.