M/W – Emergence of zoonotic diseases: studying the risk factors and its governance in two marginal urban areas of Thailand and India.

Application Deadline : 15 July 2023

This offer is available in French

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General information

Offer title : M/W – Emergence of zoonotic diseases: studying the risk factors and its governance in two marginal urban areas of Thailand and India. (H/F)
Reference : UMR8504-MARLAB-002
Number of position : 1
Workplace : AUBERVILLIERS
Date of publication : 05 June 2023
Type of Contract : PhD Student contract / Thesis offer
Contract Period : 36 months
Start date of the thesis : 1 October 2023
Proportion of work : Full time
Remuneration : 2 135,00 € gross monthly
Section(s) CN : Spaces, territories and societies

Description of the thesis topic

The PhD candidate will investigate the link between zoonotic diseases and urbanization in India and Thailand. More specifically, the candidate will focus on urban development and land conversion from agricultural/natural environment to an urban one. These types of space combine ecological conditions favourable to the emergence of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases (dengue, leptospirosis, malaria, typhus…), all the more so when they are located at the margins of cities.
Indeed, these peri- or pre-urban areas remain de facto excluded from sanitary and urban governance that is slow to expand.
This tension between high infectious risk and its inadequate management is still today a blind spot of geographic/ecological studies that can have serious health repercussions. Upstream, the candidate will expose the risk factors for emerging zoonoses in these areas and, downstream, investigate the management of these diseases at different levels. More specifically, he/she will seek to understand how this invisibility may contribute to the emergence, dissemination and retention of these viruses at the local, urban and national levels.

Work Context

The UMR Géographie-cités and the UMR Mivegec with Serge Morand obtained funds from the “Mission for Transversal and Interdisciplinary Initiatives” (MITI) to carry out a research program on the emergence of zoonoses in urban areas entitled One URban Health (OUR-HEALTH): integrating marginal urban spaces in the analysis and governance of infectious risk in Thailand and India. Serge Morand will be PhD co-guide.
The candidate will be included in projects already in place in the two countries and will therefore be particularly well accompanied in these two fieldworks. The fieldwork will be supported by the program.

Activities:
The PhD student will be expected to conduct this research through the following tasks, among others: – Contribute to an analytical framework based on an inventory of interdisciplinary knowledge on zoonoses – Conduct field surveys, particularly in India and Thailand, two countries targeted by the Prime program at the time of its formulation – Support collaborations with partners – Participate in the animation of a Hypothesis Research Notebook – Be involved in the drafting of the final report, and the scientific valorization: articles, communications.

Requirements:
Master 2 in geography, anthropology/health geography or ecology;
– Ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment (microbiology, geography, ecology…);
– Ability to conduct field surveys in the targeted areas: Thailand and India;
– Ability to work in English, knowledge of a local language is a plus.

Constraints and risks

This project requires several missions to India and Thailand. These missions need to be approved by CNRS.