Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky
In collaboration with the University of Minnesota and University of Prince Edward Island
We are seeking a motivated graduate student with an interest in animal welfare, social science, and/or precision technologies. The student’s program will be part of a larger project to create evidence-based recommendations for the sustainable use of precision dairy technologies on dairy farms, with a focus on improving animal welfare assessment and engaging key stakeholders. The specific objective of the MS program is to identify support, concerns, and trust relative to the use of precision dairy technology among members of the general public.
This is a full-time research-based master’s degree position available starting January 2022. The MS student will be jointly supervised by Dr. Joao Costa (University of Kentucky) and Dr. Beth Ventura (University of Minnesota) and will be enrolled in the Animal Science Graduate Program at the University of Kentucky (more information available here). The student will have the opportunity to engage with industry and other universities across the world, including the University of Prince Edward Island. The student should be based at the University of Kentucky for the first year of their program, but may be able to work remotely in the second year if desired.
Minimum qualifications: The ideal candidate should have a strong academic performance (3.0 GPA or above) and a background and interest in Social Science, Animal or Dairy Science, Biology, Data Science, and/or Animal Welfare & Behavior. At least some experience with animal agriculture is desired but not required if other strengths are demonstrated. Students will need GRE scores as a component of their application.
Research activities with this MS program will include: literature review, survey development and implementation, data management, quantitative and qualitative analysis, manuscript preparation, and undergraduate mentoring. Moreover, the graduate student will be expected to contribute to teaching and extension activities, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students and engage in hands-on animal research.
The student will receive a stipend ($20,000/year) and health insurance through the University of Kentucky. A tuition waiver will be available for a period of up to 2 years. Position open until filled.
To express interest in this position or to inquire about how to apply, please contact:
Dr. Joao Costa at costa@uky.edu or Dr. Beth Ventura at bventura@umn.edu.