Applications are
invited for a 3 year, competitively funded PhD in the Department of
Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK, exploring the:
Development and Pathophysiology of Stereotypic Behaviour in Horses.
Stereotypies
are repetitive, invariant compulsive behavioural sequences often
observed in captive or domestic animals. Domestic horses, particularly
those kept in intensive housing systems (boxes, stalls, etc.) show a
range of stereotypic behaviours, including oral (crib-biting) and
locomotor (weaving) behaviours, with the prevalence of stereotypic
behaviours over 30% in certain groups of competition horses.
One
strong risk factor for the development of stereotypic behaviour is
social isolation however, relatively little is known about the
mechanisms that link social behaviour and stereotypies. It has been
suggested that sub-optimal social events may increase the oxidative
free-radical status of the animal, via shifts in dopamine physiology, to
produce the stereotypy phenotype. Supporting this link, there is
substantial evidence to suggest that free radical levels can be
significantly reduced through the ingestion of antioxidants. Antioxidant
supplementation may therefore have the exciting potential to reduce
stereotypy development in animals predisposed to this abnormal
behavioural condition.
Interested candidates should write a research proposal for a project relating to social behaviour, stereotypies and oxidative stress,
or something in this general area. Based in the Centre of Comparative
and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, the project will
be supervised by equine behaviour specialists Dr Leanne Proops, Dr Matt
Parker (University of Portsmouth) and Dr Sebastian McBride
(Aberystwyth). Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact us prior to
submitting a research proposal.
How to apply: Letters of application including a CV and 500-word proposed research outline should be sent to leanne.proops@port.ac.uk and matthew.parker@port.ac.uk by 15th January.
We will select projects that we feel are suitable, and then interview
candidates (likely on the phone/skype). Successful candidates will then
submit their application to the Portsmouth Psychology Department UK
bursary competition, for which the deadline is the 11th February.
Funding & Eligibility: The
position is open to EU/UK students. The competitively funded
studentship includes tuition fees and an annual maintenance grant of
£14,553 (2017/18). A good undergraduate degree in a related field is
essential, a postgraduate degree and experience working with horses is
highly desirable.