The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a non-profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation, emphasizing international collaborations, cross-disciplinary research, innovation, and post graduate education. CyI, through its established research centres, addresses challenging issues that are important at both the regional and international levels. Many of its research activities are being carried out in partnership with leading institutions in the respective thematic areas.

The position offers excellent possibilities for professional development of highly motivated individuals in the framework of the "Climate-driven vector-borne disease risk assessment (VEClim)" project, through a Digital Technology Development Award in Climate Sensitive Infectious Disease Modelling from the Wellcome Trust, UK.

The successful applicant will be based at the Graduate School of The Cyprus Institute and at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) of The Cyprus Institute, within a highly international environment (200 research staff from 15 different countries). The selected person will be enrolled in the Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences PhD program.

The Graduate School and the Research Center 

The Graduate School was established in 2010 and is the educational arm of The Cyprus Institute. It is a fully accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education offering exclusively postgraduate programs. It accommodates a small number of students that are fully integrated into the research activities of the institute. This provides the students with the opportunity to acquire hands-on training in the use of the latest methods and techniques, have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and conduct research with internationally recognized research teams.

The Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) was established in January 2020 through funding secured from the European Union’s "Horizon 2020" research and innovation programme and the Cyprus Government, and resources from The Cyprus Institute to research and prepare to solution for the effects of climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region.

The Center carries out a combination of research, innovation and education activities, working in collaboration with international networks of leading academic institutions and thought leaders, and taking advantage of cutting-edge local environmental monitoring facilities.

CARE-C is acting as a knowledge hub for environmental and climate change research, fostering the creation of innovative and sustainable solutions that can help address the challenges facing the EMME region.

Project Description

Urbanisation, globalisation, habitat loss, and climate change associated with range expansion of invasive mosquito species elevate the risk of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), i.e., newly recognized diseases or previously known diseases that appear in new populations, rapidly increase in incidence, or expand in geographic range. In Europe, the recent establishment of the invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus, and its rapid range expansion have already led to local outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya in France, Italy, Croatia, and Spain.

Understanding the intricate interaction between vector/pathogen and environment is important for developing predictive models and helping to prevent and effectively manage future disease outbreaks. The Cyprus Institute has been among the first to develop computational models of complex life activities that can predict the habitat suitability and abundance of disease vectors that are sensitive to environmental factors and climate change.

The overarching aims of the Climate and Vector-Borne Diseases group are

  -- developing novel computational tools for climate and environment-driven dynamical modelling of disease vectors and the pathogens transmitted by them,

  -- improving the understanding of the environmental and climate dependence of vectors and vector-borne pathogens,

  -- assessing the anticipated vector activity and disease risk, and communicating with the public, scientists, and policy makers.

Qualification Requirements

  -- Master's degree in Computational Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field.

  -- Knowledge of scientific programming languages (e.g. R, Python, C).

  -- Basic knowledge of mathematical modelling, data analysis, and infectious diseases.

  -- Excellent knowledge of the English language, both verbal and writing.

  -- Independent thinking.

  -- Strong analytical and organizational skills.

  -- Interest in collaborating with international partners.

  -- High interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.

Financial Support

The successful candidate will be employed as Graduate Research Fellow or receive a stipend in accordance with the current regulations at the Graduate School. We offer competitive financial support with the exact salary / stipend level to be confirmed upon acceptance.

Application Process

Applicants should refer to the CyI website under the PhD in Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences Admissions section for additional information about the application process.

Kindly note that applications should be sent through the online application system of The Cyprus Institute Graduate School. When applying through the online application, in Step 2 of the application, applicants must enter the specific PhD Project Code: GS-EAS-CIVBD-22-1 in order to be considered for the position.

Entry Date and Application Deadline

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Associate Research Scientist Dr. Kamil Erguler (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). For more information about postgraduate studies at The Cyprus Institute and admission requirements, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies of The Cyprus Institute at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at tel: +357 22208614.