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We are delighted to announce that we again have a number of exciting funded PhD opportunities at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and we have TWELVE within the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research group. We have provided some brief project information for PhDs being supervised by members of the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Group. Closing date for applications is 25 November 2025 and project start dates are October 2026. More information about the partnership (including submission deadlines) can be found . 

The projects!  

Further details on our twelve exciting research projects are detailed below. The lead supervisors are the first ones listed – if you would like any information about these projects then please contact the lead supervisor, including the PhD title in your enquiry. 

#1 - Anthelmintic Resistance and Sustainable Parasite Control in UK Goat Systems

Supervisors: Dr Hannah Shaw & Dr Holly Vickery

Goats are an increasingly important livestock species due to their adaptability, efficiency, and the rising demand for goat milk products. Compared with cattle, goats require fewer inputs, emit less methane, and produce milk with recognised nutritional benefits (Koluman Darcan & Silanikove, 2018; Haenlein, 2004). Europe plays a disproportionately large role in the global dairy goat sector, producing 15% of the world's goat milk despite holding only 1.4% of the global herd (FAOSTAT, 2023). With the goat milk market expanding rapidly (Arizton, 2022), sustainable herd health and productivity are of increasing importance.

Anthelmintic resistance is well documented in sheep, but goat-specific data are limited. Goats metabolise drugs more rapidly than sheep, yet most anthelmintics are used off-label, raising concerns about underdosing, reduced efficacy, residues, and accelerating resistance. At the same time, little is known about UK goat farmers understanding of AR or their adoption of sustainable control strategies. Beyond animal health, anthelmintic use has wider ecological consequences. Understanding how farmers use and perceive treatments is therefore critical.

This project will address these gaps by evaluating the prevalence, effectiveness, uptake and perceptions of anthelmintics in pasture-based goats to provide the first comprehensive characterisation of UK pastured goat systems in relation to parasite management. Outcomes will inform policy, strengthen advisory frameworks and contribute to sustainable parasite control.

Objectives

(1) Characterise UK pastured goat systems, describing parasite management practices and key challenges.

(2) Assess anthelmintic use and efficacy, including dosing strategies and product performance.

(3) Explore farmer understanding of AR, use of SCOPS guidelines, and adoption of sustainable strategies.

(4) Examine advisory roles and communication pathways, identifying barriers and opportunities for effective knowledge exchange.

More information about this project can be found .

#2 - Application of a Milk-Based Diagnostic Tool for Early Detection of Johne's Disease in Dairy Herds

Supervisors: Dr Tharangani Herath, Dr. Gemma Charlton , Dr Joshua Oyango, Prof. Jonathan Statham

Johne's Disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic gastrointestinal infection in dairy cattle, leading to diarrhoea, weight loss, reduced milk yield and infertility. It was ranked the top cattle disease affecting UK production efficiency in 2021 and contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions from affected cows. There is no cure or targeted treatment for JD. Current management relies on culling clinically affected animals, but early detection is difficult. Available diagnostics (ELISA, culture, PCR, histopathology) have limited sensitivity in subclinical infection due to intermittent shedding of MAP. A practical, sensitive, and herd-level diagnostic tool is urgently needed.

Milk offers a non-invasive, scalable diagnostic sample. Our preliminary data show MAP DNA can be detected in milk somatic cells, supporting development and validation of a DNA-based assay. The aim of the project is to develop a milk-based molecular assay as a non-invasive early detection method for screening animals for MAP and assess the feasibility of using it under field conditions.

Objectives

1. Collect milk and faecal samples from JD-positive and healthy cows; compare PCR detection of MAP with milk ELISA.

2. Develop and validate a milk-based diagnostic tool for accurate detection at cow and herd level.

3. Pilot a field study to estimate JD prevalence using the tool, recording herd management practices.

4. Analyse associations between prevalence, management and animal-level factors to identify risk patterns and early-warning indicators

The project will employ qPCR, ELISA, behavioural monitoring and epidemiology to advance sustainable dairy farming by delivering a novel, non-invasive diagnostic tool for JD, improving early detection, herd health, and farm profitability while reducing economic and environmental impacts.

  More information is available 

#3 - Assessing Long-Term Consequences of Cryptosporidiosis for Dairy Cattle Productivity and Farm Sustainability

Supervisors:  & Dr Emma Bleach

Cryptosporidiosis is a common disease affecting livestock and humans, caused by Cryptosporidium, a single celled parasite, that produces highly resilient oocysts. These oocysts can survive for months in farm environments and are difficult to eliminate. While its acute effects are well documented, the long-term impacts on productivity remain poorly understood in dairy systems. Shaw et al. have demonstrated that early-life cryptosporidiosis can have lasting effects on growth in beef calves, yet equivalent data for dairy calves are lacking, representing a critical knowledge gap for the dairy sector. This PhD will provide the first integrated assessment of cryptosporidiosis in dairy herds, combining longitudinal calf monitoring, environmental contamination studies, and farmer engagement.

This research will quantify the hidden economic burden of cryptosporidiosis, identify opportunities to improve productivity, and guide best-practice calf health management. It will also provide insights for biosecurity and One Health. Farmer perspectives will ensure that outputs are practical, to ensure the adoption of control measures. Outcomes will inform livestock health policies, contribute to antimicrobial resistance reduction strategies by emphasising prevention, and support the sustainability agenda by improving dairy calf welfare and productivity.

Objectives

(1) Quantify long-term production impacts by monitoring infected and uninfected calves for weight gain, growth, age at first calving, and first-lactation yield.

(2) Evaluate environmental contamination to identify reservoirs and transmission risks.

(3) Assess farmer perceptions and practices through surveys and interviews, exploring awareness, perceived long-term impacts, and attitudes toward environmental contamination.

(4) Communicate findings to deliver evidence-based recommendations for sustainable control strategies to a variety of stakeholders.

More information about this project can be found .

#4 - Balancing education and welfare: Quantifying the impact of farm animal use in education to inform evidence-based guidelines

Supervisors: Dr Holly Vickery & Dr Ellen Williams

Across both further and higher education farm animals are routinely used to teach students (McGreevy et al., 2007). In the UK, there are approximately 130 school farms used to support teaching (Cooke, personal communication). Farm animal teaching activities vary from observational (e.g. gait assessments, behavioural monitoring), to routine husbandry (foot trimming, health checking) or more invasive clinical skills (ex. pregnancy diagnosis via rectal examinations). Live animal use in education is considered essential for developing the required familiarity and proficiency expected of graduates (Vemulapalli et al., 2017). Whilst evidence demonstrates varied effects of human-animal-interactions on farmed animals (Mota-Rojas et al., 2020), literature in relation to the specific context of educational use is lacking. There is an urgent need to collect an evidence base quantifying the impact of educational training sessions on farmed animals, to inform welfare-friendly educational guidelines which support student learning without compromising animal welfare.

Objectives & research plan

- Quantify current farmed animal use in education with consideration of species, production cycle stage and skills taught. Consult with farm staff and academics to understand perceived welfare impacts and barriers to improved welfare.

- Quantify the welfare impacts (short and longer term) of current educational use on farmed animals on animal behaviour (activity budgets, qualitative behavioural assessment) and health data (locomotion, milk yield etc.), with consideration of species-specifics impacts and animal individuality.

- Develop evidence-based best practice guidelines for animal-welfare monitoring protocols for farmed animals in education.

More information about this project can be found .

#5 - Investigating the long-term impacts of environmental enrichment for dairy heifers, and its relation to a successful transition into the milking herd

Supervisors: Dr Holly Vickery & Dr Gemma Charlton 

Most UK dairy cattle are kept indoors for some, or all, of the year and it is accepted that this restricts behavioural expression, despite this, environmental enrichment (EE) use is limited. Effective EE decreases abnormal behaviour, and increases appropriate species-specific behaviours (e.g. exploration, foraging, play, social interaction). Brushes are routinely used in the milking herd as effective EE, and there is research regarding the provision of EE for calves pre-weaning, however whilst heifers likely experience the same benefits, the most feasible and efficacious EE for this age group is under explored. Increasing the complexity of the rearing environment promotes behavioural and social flexibility, which can help individuals better cope with stressors. This seems highly relevant for heifers as they must cope with transitioning into the milking herd and the suite of stressors related to this (changes in their physiology, social and physical environment). However, the stage between weaning and when a heifer joins the milking herd is a neglected research area, and it seems likely they are typically not provided with EE. Evidence demonstrates that there is individual variation in an animal’s ability to adapt to environmental changes, and farm animal personality is an important research area, as personality and coping style are likely related. Understanding personality and how it relates to the efficacy and use of EE, and coping ability around times of transition is highly relevant to improving future heifer rearing.  

This project will focus on EE provisions during the heifer rearing stage, and the student will have access to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s ‘Future Farm’ herd of dairy cattle, and to laboratories to undertake analysis of physiological indicators. The overall aim is to understand the long-term individual heifer impacts of enrichment provision in relation to their personality, and improving their health, welfare and productivity when experiencing the transition to the milking herd. 

Objectives

1. Understand preference and use of a range of EE 
2. Investigate the interaction between heifer personality and the efficacy of enrichment, by utilising personality testing techniques.  
3. Quantify the long-term impacts of enrichment, by investigating if enriched heifers transition more successfully into the milking herd, and investigate if there is a relationship between personality and coping ability.  

 More information is available 

#6 - Improving animal welfare practices in Veterinary Education: an evidence-based approach

Animals are routinely used to teach clinical skills to veterinary students (McGreevy et al. 2007) yet there is a lack of legislation in relation to their use and little research quantifying welfare impacts. Within veterinary education, requirements differ across accrediting bodies however providers are required to have animal use policies in place (AVMA, 2025; RCVS, 2023). Consultations with VE colleagues highlighted a lack of guidance on creating animal-use policies. Animals in VE are routinely exposed to a range of handling from potentially positive (e.g. light muscular palpation) to more aversive practicals (e.g. rectal examinations). Preliminary work undertaken by the project team has shown behavioural changes in companion and farm animals (Sadler et al., 2024). Students demonstrate a preference for teaching with live animals over the use of non-animal alternatives (Elcoro et al., 2013) and the practical nature of the activities is able to meet the needs of different learning styles (Vemulapalli et al., 2017). However, benefits for students must be weighed against animal welfare. There is an urgent need to quantify the impact of veterinary education provision on animals and to understand the impact of non-animal alternatives on students.

Objectives & methods
1. Determine current animal use and perceived impacts of veterinary education on animals through a delphi consultation with colleagues in veterinary education. Consultation will focus on animal use, monitoring protocols and perceived areas of welfare compromise
2. Quantify the impacts of current veterinary education practicals on animals used in veterinary education through cross-disciplinary experiments. Analysis will focus on interactions between animal personality, health and practical type and animal responses
3. Understand the impacts of animal models in veterinary education provision through assessing student experiences and skills development when using non-animal model alternatives.
4. Develop evidence-based best practice guidelines for animal use in veterinary education

 More information is available .

#7 - Optimising resource provision to enrich the lives of dairy cattle

Supervisors: Dr Gemma Charlton, Dr Sarah Morgan & Dr Emma Bleach 

Dairy cattle are usually housed for at least part of the year, with many indoors all-year round. The indoor environment offers weather protection and greater control of feeding and monitoring. However, housing is often barren with only basic/essential resources, limiting natural behaviours. Pasture is a natural environment for cattle, allowing expression of behaviours such as grazing, social interactions and space to lie in varied positions. However, pasture alone does not always allow cows to meet their nutritional requirement. In addition, they are exposed to climatic conditions, heat stress and may damage the pasture. Previous studies from Ï㽶ÊÓƵ investigating the preference of dairy cows for housing or pasture, showed that preference for pasture is complex and the aspects of pasture that are most valued by dairy cattle, remain poorly understood. The proposed research will enhance our comprehension of the importance of resources available to cows at pasture to better understand their needs and inform future dairy cow management practices.

Aim

To understand the importance of access to enriching resources (e.g. pasture, shade, brushes etc.) for improving the welfare of cattle kept housed and at pasture, whilst maintaining productivity.

Objectives

1. Explore the importance of a range of enriching resources for dairy cattle in housed and pasture environments

2. Investigate motivation of dairy cattle to access various enriching resources in housed and pasture environments

3. Understand time budgets of cows provided with enriching resources when housed and at pasture

 More information is available 

#8 - Optimising management strategies within dairy cow-calf contact systems in the United Kingdom 

Supervisors: Dr Annabelle Beaver & Dr Emma Bleach 

This project aims to investigate and optimise cow-calf contact (CCC) systems in dairy farming, addressing a growing interest from both consumers and farmers in the UK and globally. While separating dairy calves from dams within 24 hours is standard practice, CCC systems are gaining attention due to potential benefits for cow and calf health, welfare, and social sustainability. Dairy producers already implementing CCC cite reduced workload as a key advantage, while conventional dairy farmers tend to view CCC systems as infeasible. Thus, lack of knowledge and guidance on optimal management practices may represent a barrier to more widespread uptake of CCC.

The proposed research for the PhD studentship will comprise two main components: 

1. Identification of optimal management practices for CCC systems in the UK, involving both cross-sectional and longitudinal data collection. Management decisions will be analysed for associations with welfare and performance indicators for cows and their calves.   
2. A prospective cohort study on postpartum disease and fertility outcomes for the dam to address key research gaps regarding the effects of CCC on dam health. 

By combining on-farm data collection and epidemiological analysis, the project aims to provide evidence-based guidance for optimal CCC management practices, potentially facilitating wider adoption in the dairy industry. 

 More information is available 

#9 - Positive welfare strategies to support dairy cows through the dry period  

Supervisors: Dr Gemma Charlton & Dr Emma Bleach

In the interval between lactations the dairy cow enters her dry period, a critical phase in her production cycle when milking ceases for 6 to 8 weeks. During this time the cow undergoes various dietary, environmental, physiological and social changes that can increase vulnerability to stress, metabolic disorders and welfare challenges [1]. Despite the importance of the dry period in preparing the cow for her next lactation, the far-off dry period in particular, is viewed as one of the least important phases of the production cycle [2], and its impact on cow productivity and well-being is under researched. Therefore, this study aims to address these gaps by identifying strategies to improve both immediate welfare outcomes and long-term resilience of dairy cows.

Objectives

1. Evaluate the influence of different management strategies on health and welfare of dairy cows during the dry period.

2. Understand the long-term effects of different dry cow management strategies on productivity and resilience.

3. Develop recommendations for strategies to enhance dry cow management based on outputs from the studies.

Strategies to be explored may include the incorporation of environmental enrichments, pasture access, options for housing and grouping cows. Wearable sensors, cameras and other automated monitoring will be used to collect continuous behavioural, physiological, and production data during the dry and post-partum transition periods, into lactation and throughout her herd life.

This research will identify housing and management strategies that promote positive welfare, reduce stress and boredom and inform practical, low-cost interventions for the dairy sector. In the long term, these approaches could also enhance cows' resilience during transitions between dry periods and lactations.

More information about this project can be found .

#10 - Stress, Behaviour and Host-Pathogen Dynamics in Early Life Stages of Salmonids

Supervisors: Dr Tharangani Herath, Dr Robert Mukiibi, Dr Ellen Williams 

Early life stages (ELs) of salmonids are critical to the success of commercial production, as they significantly influence the overall health and development of the fish. In salmonids, this period comprised of several key developmental phases, including fertilisation, embryonic development, and larval stages, each of which is essential for proper growth and survival. During these stages, farmed fish are often subjected to overcrowding, exhaustive handling, and social stressors. In addition, environmental factors, such as poor water quality and temperature fluctuations, exacerbate stress levels. The stress in young fish not only weakens their immunity but also increases their susceptibility to diseases, leading to significant mortality rates. Reports indicate that around 38% of fish mortalities occur during the hatchery phase, with approximately 70% attributed to infectious diseases (e.g. Yersinia ruckeri and Flavobacterium psychrophilum). Addressing early life stressors is essential for improving the health, welfare, and productivity of salmonids in aquaculture settings; however, current research on this topic is limited. 

The aim of this study is to enhance the welfare of salmonids by investigating the effects of stress on behaviour and host-pathogen dynamics ELs. Personality assessments will be undertaken to understand how individual traits influence group behavioural differences, particularly during first feeding and fry stages. In conjunction with personality testing, we will develop a set of welfare metrics (WM), which will include physiological stress indicators such as cortisol levels, haematological and immune parameters. 

                                                           Photo by  on  

More information about this project can be found .

#11 - Thinking, Playing, Connecting: Evidence-Based Enrichment for Cognitively Advanced Social Species in Zoos             

Supervisors: Dr Ellen Williams, Dr Holly Vickery, Matthew Shackleton, Lucy Stratford

Enriched environments are important for zoo animals, ensuring positive welfare and cognitive challenge. Enrichment can improve quality of life by enabling species-typical behaviours and opportunities for choice and control (Carlstead and Shepherdson, 2000), but goal-based enrichment does not follow a one-size fits all model and it can be difficult to effectively implement (Tuite et al., 2022). Reflective practice which incorporates evaluation at an individual and group level is often overlooked. Socially complex and cognitively advanced species are difficult to cater for in zoos. Environments must support complex social dynamics whilst being cognitively stimulating, providing challenge without frustration. Understanding the interplay between animal personality, enrichment provision and health and welfare is of vital importance in ensuring animals are behaviourally, psychologically and physically sound. This PhD will involve exciting collaborations between behavioural, health and zoo scientists, and will use social and cognitively advanced (SCA) species (e.g. elephants, social primates) to develop evidence-based methodologies for understanding the science of enrichment.

Objectives & methods

1. Understand enrichment provision for SCA zoo-housed species via surveys and a systematic literature review

2. Quantify the importance of behavioural and anatomical adaptations in enrichment design and understand impacts of enrichment on behavioural and health parameters in SCA animals (using individual and group-level metrics) via zoo experiments

3. Identify evidence-based ways of reliably capturing impacts of enrichment using multi-faceted metrics (e.g. animal behaviour, affective state, social relationships, physical health) whilst considering practicality and feasibility of measures for industry

4. Develop practical and feasible best practice guidelines for enrichment provision including enrichment evaluation and refinement based on individual and group needs.

More information on the project can be found .

#12 - Use of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone to mitigate health and welfare challenges in calves and heifers

Supervisors: Dr Annabelle Beaver, Dr Holly Vickery & Dr Juliana Garcia Alvarez     

Commercially reared dairy calves can be subject to a host of health and welfare challenges in early life. This project aims to refine our understanding of the bovine appeasing pheromone (BAP) and its potential effects on dairy calf welfare. Previous research from our lab and other's (e.g., Garcia-Alvarez et al., 2025; Spencer et al., 2025) has found that application of a synthetic analogue of BAP can improve coping mechanisms for dairy calves during stressful events such weaning, disbudding, and episodes of disease.     

 The proposed project will comprise two main components:
1. A randomised controlled trial within a single herd to extend our previous work with BAP. This experiment, which will be blinded until after completion of the statistical analysis, will be designed to enhance power to detect health-related differences between BAP-treated animals and controls. The trial will also investigate whether application of the pheromone in early life is sufficient to mitigate weaning distress, or if a constant application of the pheromone through the weaning phase is necessary to provide welfare benefits. There may be further opportunities to investigate the effectiveness of a new galenic form of the pheromone, which would facilitate commercial application.

2. Research into the potential long-term benefits of BAP in heifers later in life. At Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, we are fortunate to maintain a cohort of heifers that have been treated with BAP from birth through weaning. This exploration will involve the collection of historical records from these animals in addition to current measurements to evaluate production, reproduction, and other performance metrics (compared to control animals).

This dual-pronged approach will address key research gaps and aid in providing data for a cost-benefit analysis for pheromone usage in commercial dairy-farm settings.

More information on the project can be found .