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Thursday, 14 May 2015

EU students PhD Studentship - Reducing use of veterinary medicines through farmer learning groups

University of Bristol

PhD Studentship - Reducing use of veterinary medicines through farmer learning groups

University of Bristol - School of Veterinary Sciences

Pressures to minimise medicines, particularly antimicrobials, used in food animals are likely to increase from consumers and policy makers, including retailers. To address the challenge of more responsible use of medicines while maintaining or improving dairy herd health and welfare, comprehensive, participatory approaches to welfare interventions and disease prevention are a potential way forward. This research project will test and adapt a model developed for reducing medicine use for organic dairy herds through farmer learning groups, applying it in conventional dairy systems working with farmer groups and their veterinary surgeon to develop novel approaches to more responsible use of antimicrobials on farm and explicitly to inform policy. This project aims to deliver: first, a tool for auditing and benchmarking responsible medicine use in the context of the farm’s herd health performance, and, second, a set of credible and practical recommendations for industry and policy makers on how participatory approaches could promote responsible antimicrobial use.
The project will be based at the School of Veterinary Sciences, situated on a dedicated site, with world-class research facilities including a recently modernized dairy unit, in the village of Langford, 14 miles south of Bristol. The School has an international reputation in research promoting uptake of animal welfare best practice and a growing interest in strategies to tackle antimicrobial resistance (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/vetscience/research/). The project team includes experts in animal welfare (David Main), veterinary medicine (Kristen Reyher), facilitation (Lisa van Dijk) and social science (Henry Buller, Exeter). The award is a three year PhD.
Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select ‘Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences’ and then ’Veterinary Science (PhD)’ on the Programme Choice page and enter details of the studentship when prompted in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form
The project will be of interest to highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in participatory approaches to improving animal health and welfare. Suitable applicants will be expected to have a good degree in a relevant agriculture or veterinary-based discipline and be familiar with dairy production systems. All applicants must have excellent communication skills, and previous experience in facilitating farmer groups would be a particular advantage.
Funding: The project is funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (DairyCo), and covers tuition fees for UK / EU students and a tax-free stipend of £13,863. In addition, a possible additional stipend for veterinary graduates may be available dependent upon successful application to another funding body.  Applications from international students outside of the EU would be considered however would be expected to fund the difference between the EU and overseas fee.
Contacts: Prof David Main d.c.j.main@bristol.ac.uk or Dr Kristen Reyher kristen.reyher@bristol.ac.uk
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