- Agency
- University of Arkansas- Monticello and Arkansas Department of Health
- Job Category
- Center of Excellence Vector Biology Internships, Internships
- Salary
- $11/hr, plus a $700 monthly housing stipend
- Last Date to Apply
- March 26, 2020
- Website
- https://entojobs.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/79/2020/03/AK-Internship-2020.pdf
- Description
- Arkansas is home to several species of ticks. Arkansas also ranks among the top states in the United States for incidence for both Spotted Fever Rickettsias and Ehlichiosis. The distribution of these important zoonotic diseases overlaps with the distribution of the most common tick found attacking humans, companion animals, and wildlife in AR. The aggressive and ubiquitous Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum, dominates in most Arkansas landscapes and depending on habitat and season, tick population density is high. This tick transmits tularemia, STARI, and the agents responsible for ehrlichiosis. The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is another important vector in Arkansas, transmitting Rickettsia rickettsii and tularemia. There are also areas that support populations of Gulf Coast ticks, Amblyomma maculatum. The current extent of the distribution and density of other tick species and their associated pathogens is largely unknown. The Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Diseases is seeking a summer intern to support surveillance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens using tick drags and tick traps in various locations in Arkansas focusing primarily on Southeast Arkansas. Ticks will be identified, pooled by species and location, and sent to a supporting lab for pathogen identification. These data will be incorporated into the larger Arkansas Department of Health database. The selected intern will work with faculty from the University of Arkansas - Monticello and Arkansas Department of Health personnel at ADH headquarters in Little Rock. The recipient will receive training on surveillance and identification of ticks, tick biology, applied epidemiology, education and outreach, structure and operation of the Arkansas Department of Health, and how vector data is incorporated and used by public health authorities at the local and state level. This is an 11-week, paid internship that offers hands-on experience in vector-borne disease public health practice. The selected candidate will be compensated at $11/hr, plus a $700 monthly housing stipend. Interested students can send a completed application and CV to Caroline Weldon (caweldon@utmb.edu) by March 26th, 2020.
- Job Number
- 161
- Contact Person
- Caroline Weldon
- Contact eMail
- caweldon@utmb.edu