jeudi 29 février 2024

2 PhD projects

We are advertising two fully funded PhD projects on maternal-offspring conflict. The scholarship offers a stipend for 3 years and covers fees. Interested students should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project.
Deadline for applications: ***29th of Februay 2024*** .
1. The impact of maternal-offspring conflict on growth, behaviour and stress in fallow deer
fawns
Lead supervisor: Dr Domhnall Jennings (D.JenningsATqub.ac.uk)
Conflict between parents and offspring over parental resource allocation is expected to arise close to the time of offspring independence. Using the fallow deer as a model species this project will investigate how parent-offspring conflict and conflict within the wider group affect behaviour, growth and stress in fallow deer fawns from birth to weaning.
2. Maternal-offspring and cooperation during pregnancy in mammals
Lead supervisor: Dr Isabella Capellini (I.CapelliniATqub.ac.uk)
Parent-offspring conflict is well understood through research on behaviour and interactions during infancy and beyond. Much less understood is the cryptic conflict present in livebearing species during pregnancy. This project aims to test a series of hypotheses on the role of conflict during pregnancy in mammals using phylogenetic comparative methdods