Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
TRW 2D10, 3280 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6
February 7, 2016
PhD Graduate Student Position: Developing novel diagnostic approaches to improve the management of
anthelmintic drug resistance in small ruminants
The University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is seeking a graduate student with a keen interest in
small ruminant medicine and parasitology research. The project work will involve a mixture of “on-farm”
clinical parasitology and laboratory based molecular biology/genomics research and so would suit an
ambitious individual looking to develop expertise in both areas.
What are we looking for: Applicants with a DVM degree or a degree in a relevant branch of animal science
are encouraged to apply. The preferred candidate needs to be highly motivated, enthusiastic and good team
player with excellent communication skills. Experience in small ruminant production, laboratory research and
a basic grounding in molecular biology and genetics are all considered assets. The balance of these different
expertise will be considered on a case by case basis.
The Project: Gastrointestinal nematodes (roundworms) infections are amongst the most important disease
problems of sheep worldwide. Of most concern is Haemonchus contortus (“Barber’s Pole worm”) that causes
severe acute anaemia and often death due to its high pathogenicity and ability to become resistant to all the
available drugs used for control. This graduate student will work within a multidisciplinary research group to
develop and apply novel “microbiome-style” next-generation sequencing approaches to investigate the
prevalence and sensitivity of parasites to the different anthelmintic drugs. Assays will be developed and
applied for the quantitative detection of anthelmintic resistance mutations and to investigate the origins and
spread of drug resistance in parasite populations.
What we offer: The graduate student will be co-supervised by Dr John Gilleard, Professor of Parasitology and
Dr Michel Levy, Professor of Large Animal Medicine and will be part of a large interdisciplinary research group
focussed on the study of anthelmintic resistance in livestock parasites.
UCVM is a new and dynamic veterinary faculty in Western Canada that has a strong commitment to
production animal health. UCVM faculty works across disciplines and departments, fostering collaborative
research, teaching and service. Descriptions of the Faculty and its departments can be found on the UCVM
website (www.vet.ucalgary.ca). Calgary is a vibrant, multicultural city with a population of just over a million
people. It is located near the Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park and Lake Louise, and offers an enormous
opportunity for outdoor activities both in winter and summer.
The salary will be commensurate with the level of education and experience. For additional information and
informal enquiries please contact Dr John Gilleard (jsgillea@ucalgary.ca) or Dr Michel Levy
(mlevy@ucalgary.ca ). Interested individuals should submit a current curriculum vitae and an outline of
research interests along with the names of three referees to:
Dr John Gilleard. email: jsgillea@ucalgary.ca . Phone +1 (403) 210 6327.
Research Group website: http://www.ucalgary.ca/jsgilleard/
Review of applications will start ASAP and will be ongoing until a suitable candidate is identified.