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Published: 13 Jan 2023 766 views
Biological Sciences: Fully Funded PHD Scholarship: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Welfare and Efficacy of Cleaner Fish in the Fish Farming Industry
Fish welfare is central for the sustainable growth of aquaculture but, because fish domestication is very recent compared to mammals and birds, knowledge and protocols for assessing welfare in aquaculture is limited. Changes in behaviour (aggression) and reduction in brain size are common effects of fish farming but their importance for fish welfare are unknown. Smaller brain size and lower cognitive abilities seem related to the less complex farming environment compared to natural fish habitats. The ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) and the lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) are currently used as cleanerfish (a biological alternative for parasite control) in the Atlantic salmon (Atlantic salmon) farming industry. These species do not coexist in the wild but are reared together in salmon cages, raising concerns about their health and welfare, but also potentially creating a more complex, richer environment than in mono-culture.
The project will focus on the following areas:
1. Baseline testing of the effect of fish interactions on behaviour, brain morphology and gene expression at the facilities in CSAR
2. Protocol development to assess, maintain and optimise cleanerfish welfare through the use of genomic biomarkers of stress and welfare
3. Validation in industry
The projects are best suited for students interested on behavioural studies combined with genomics. Close collaboration with a parallel project in AI and machine learning is expected and training will be provided both by the academic supervisors and the industrial partners.
Swansea University has been at the cutting edge of research and innovation since 1920. We have a long history of working with business and industry but today our world-class research has a much wider impact across the health, wealth, culture, and well-being of our society. We have achieved an extraordinary level of success in recent years and our research activity exceeds that of many larger universities yet this has not compromised the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that has always characterised the �Swansea experience�. In our Centenary year, we look forward to continuing to work ... continue reading
| Application Deadline | 27 Feb 2023 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| School to study | Swansea University |
| Type | PhD |
| Course to study | View courses |
| Sponsor | Swansea University |
| Gender | Men and Women |
This is a collaborative PhD projects that aims to improve the welfare and delousing efficacy of cleaner fish used in salmon farming. We aim to assess the behavioural and physical/genomic changes occurring in the brain of cleaner fish, to establish physiological and stress-related consequences of cohabitation under poly-culture and use the finding to improve fish welfare and inform the artificial selection of better, more efficient elite lines of cleaner fish. We will use a combination of behavioural assays, genomics and epigenomics and combine these with expertise on in machine vision and deep-learning algorithms and optimise tools to assess and improve the welfare of cleanerfish in an industrial environment (SSC).
This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £17,668.
Additional research expenses will also be available.
Candidates must normally 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). See ‘country specific information for European and international applicants (available at the bottom of the page)'.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea recognised equivalent. Details on the Swansea University English Language entry policy can be found here.
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by?UKCISA regulations.
NB: If you are holding a non-UK degree, please see Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [email protected] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
The projects are best suited for students interested on behavioural studies combined with genomics. Close collaboration with a parallel project in AI and machine learning is expected and training will be provided both by the academic supervisors and the industrial partners.
Closing date: 27 February 2023
Funding providers: Scottish Salmon Company and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering
Subject areas: Fish Welfare, Behaviour and domestication, Genomics/genetics
Project start date:
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Biological Sciences
Mode of study: Full-time
For enquiries, please contact Professor Sofia Consuegra ([email protected]) / Professor Carlos Garcia de Leaniz ([email protected]).
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please not that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email [email protected] where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
For more details visit: Swansea University website.