University of Tasmania, Australia

Understanding the Causes and Consequences of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial endemic to the island state of Tasmania, and is found all over the state. Over the past decade, a dramatic decline has occurred in the Devil population in association with the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The School of Zoology at UTAS leads research into understanding the ecology of the disease, its impacts on devils and other species (at the individual, population and species level), its transmission (including within and between populations) as well as the genetics of both the disease and the devil. A range of projects are potentially available to the right candidate. In the first instance, please contact the Graduate Research Coordinator in Zoology (Dr Erik Wapstra) by email with an area of interest.