JEN PECHAL, PHD
Disease Ecology
Buruli ulcer is a chronic debilitating disease affecting the skin, soft tissues, and sometimes bone caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. As the third most common mycobacterial disease, after tuberculosis and leprosy, it is reported from over 30 countries in the Americas, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Yet, the mode of transmission remains unknown despite being studied for over 70 years.
Communities of microbes ("microbiomes") associated with animal and human hosts constantly interact with potential disease agents. But why does one host, and not another, present disease pathology? In part, ecological studies of host-pathogen systems have largely focused on a single host species infected with a single species of pathogen. The community ecology of a disease causing environmental microbial system co-occurring in hosts has yet to be explored.
The research supported by this National Science Foundation Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) award directly examines whether an environmental pathogen produces a novel weapon across hosts (e.g., insects, fishes) to persist in its habitat and increase associated disease risk. Exploring interactions between human disease-causing organisms and their environment provides insight into the basic cause of disease. This interdisciplinary project will provide numerous opportunities for training undergraduates, graduate students, and research professionals, including individuals from underrepresented groups, such as veterans and indigenous tribes. In addition, this work will contribute publicly available data that can be used by other researchers and public health professionals and provide educational tools necessary to improve health outcomes
Open PhD Graduate Student Position for NSF-EEID Project in French Guiana
We are seeking a motivated PhD student to start 2020 at Michigan State University (Department of Entomology). The student will be co-advised by Dr. M. Eric Benbow and Dr. Jennifer Pechal. The student will have the opportunity to conduct field and laboratory studies to develop their expertise in aquatic disease ecology in tropical ecosystems. Research will focus on collecting and processing environmental samples from aquatic invertebrates, fish, and macrophyte biofilms to characterize microbiomes (using HTS).
The project is part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team examining how Mycobacterium ulcerans has evolved a novel molecular weapon that allows it to persist and disperse in environments where human contact and possible transmission is at highest risk. The student will have the opportunity to integrate with the MSU Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program (https://eebb.msu.edu/) . Applicants must possess integrity, enthusiasm, high motivation, creativity, organization, and effective communication (oral and written) in a collaborative setting. Applicants will need to work independently and as an effective member of our diverse team.
Applicants should submit a cover letter describing research experience and career goals, curriculum vitae, names and contact information for three references to benbow@msu.edu. This position is fully-funded (competitive graduate stipends, benefits, and tuition) through a 4-year NSF Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases grant. Review of the application materials will begin 1 September 2019, but the position will remain open until filled.
Project Partners
Michigan State University (MSU)
M. Eric Benbow, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology
Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties
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Jennifer L. Pechal, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
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Mississippi State University (MSSTATE)
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Heather R. Jordan, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of West Alabama (UWA)
Michael W. Sandel, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
French Institute for Research on Sustainable Development (IRD) and French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Jean-Francois Guègan, PhD
Professor
Senior Research Director
Research Agency for Development
Christine Chevillon, PhD
Professor
French National Center for Scientific Research
Michigan State University and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer that is committed to achieving inclusive excellence through attracting diverse candidates and fostering a culture of equity where everyone is valued, supported and inspired to achieve individual and collective goals.