Funded PhD Project at UWS (UK Students Only)

University of the West of Scotland

Closing date
21 Feb 2025
Location
Glasgow, Scotland

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

 

About the Project

The popularity of fish as companion animals increased by 60% in 2022 with 17% of UK households keeping fish. They are the most numerous companion animals kept in the UK, as one home aquarium may contain many fish. Keeping pets can promote the well-being of their owners, with aquarium owners estimated to spend £400 million annually on fish and other consumables. Fish welfare continues to gain importance in the UK, with implications for both traded fish and their source environment. This project, in collaboration with Waltham Petcare Science Institute, builds on our previous research which provided knowledge exchange with industry by documenting current transport practices, modifying existing practices, and developing ways of monitoring fish welfare. In food-fish aquaculture the diet fish are fed prior to transport can help alleviate transport stress; this idea has not been properly explored for ornamentals. The over-arching aim of this Ph.D. will therefore be to explore the use of novel additives to improve ornamental fish welfare, and investigate diet as a form of environmental enrichment.

The Ph.D. would be based primarily at our UWS Lanarkshire campus, working in the aquatic research group. In the first instance, informal enquiries should be made by email to Professor Kath Sloman ([email protected]). Applicants should submit their application through the UWS online system (www.uws.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/admissions-application/postgraduate-research-application-guide). Interviews will likely be held on Thursday 27th Feb.

Application Deadline: 21st February 2025

Start Date: 1st April 2025 or 1st June 2025

If you have a position you would like to advertise on the SEB jobs board then please send us the details