Biological Sciences: Fully Funded Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Baboon Sociality & Health

Job title:

Biological Sciences: Fully Funded Swansea University PhD Scholarship: Baboon Sociality & Health

Company:

Job description

Offer DescriptionFunding provider: Swansea UniversitySubject areas: Animal behaviour, Biologging, Physiology, Endocrinology, MetagenomicsProject start date:

• 1 July 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-June)
• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project supervisors:
(primary supervisor- ) * Dr Tamsyn Uren-Webster

• Dr Andrew King

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Biological SciencesMode of study: Full-timeProject description:Many animals form stable social relationships between specific individuals. These relationships are extremely beneficial but also come with costs. For example, trade-offs exist with respect to stress (social buffering versus social stress) and transmission of health (beneficial gut microbiota) and disease (parasites, viruses) but are little understood because of the challenges of collecting appropriate data in the wild. To understand these trade-offs, this interdisciplinary PhD will use and extend a worldwide unique data set on wild baboon social behaviour and health. Sociality is studied in unprecedented detail, with simultaneous data for 16 individuals. GPS and acceleration data from bespoke tracking collars provide information on behaviour and social interactions/proximity every second over several months. Health information comes from
350 urine and
600 faecal samples collected in the field. These samples are matched to individuals and time periods, affording non-invasive investigation of reproductive state, stress physiology, immune function, energy and metabolic status, parasite load, and microbiome composition. Combining these data on baboon sociality and health therefore provides rare opportunity to investigate how and why social relationships evolve, and their consequences for individuals’ health.RequirementsResearch Field Biological sciences Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsCandidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.The ideal candidate will have a master’s level degree, research interests and expertise in animal behaviour and physiology, and excellent data handling and analysis skills relevant to the project. Applications from candidates with a strong quantitative background but without a first degree in biology are also encouraged. Please get in touch for enquiries or more details.Specific RequirementsDue to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by .Additional InformationBenefitsThis scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £18,622 for 2023/24).Additional research expenses will also be available.Eligibility criteriaCandidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.The ideal candidate will have a master’s level degree, research interests and expertise in animal behaviour and physiology, and excellent data handling and analysis skills relevant to the project. Applications from candidates with a strong quantitative background but without a first degree in biology are also encouraged. Please get in touch for enquiries or more details.Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by .Selection processPlease visit our website for more information.Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Swansea University Country United Kingdom GeofieldWhere to apply WebsiteContact State/ProvinceSwansea CitySwansea WebsiteStreetSingleton Park Postal CodeSA2 8PPSTATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

£18622 per year

Location

Swansea

Job date

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:22:11 GMT

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