RVC PhD: Principal-agent theory assessment to understand inappropriate antibiotic usage in rural Indian’s livestock

Over and inappropriate use of antibiotics can have negative consequences at both the individual and societal level by being wasteful of resources, leading to deleterious outcomes, and contributing to antibiotic resistance. This PhD aims to understand the decision-making process done by livestock keepers (backyard livestock and commercial poultry systems) and animal health providers for inappropriate choice and usage of antibiotics in rural India. The project will focus on the application of the principal-agent problem, as determine within game theory. This considers that the interest of the agent (animal health provider) may not always be aligned with the interest of the principal (livestock owner). Hence, some decisions involving inappropriate antibiotic usage may be influenced by differences in the expectations of gain and losses, which in turn are influenced by complex interaction of socio-economic, health and behavioral (irrational) factors.

The PhD student will define and quantify ‘inappropriate’ access and usage of antibiotics in backyard livestock systems and commercial poultry systems in selected study sites. Principal-agent behavior models for inappropriate antibiotic use will be produced to explain it occurrence. Factors involved in the decision process by the principal and/or the agent will then be identified and tested. Behavioral economics will be used to complement this understanding through identification of irrational factors that could act as nudge in intervention. Final behavioral models will allow the assessment of the efficacy of potential interventions. Data will be collected through literature review, stakeholders’ surveys and/or expert opinion.

This PhD will be embedded in two ongoing research projects (‘A multi stakeholder approach to operationalising antibiotic stewardship in India’s pluralistic rural health system’ and the ‘GCRF One Health poultry Hub’), which will facilitate data collection and access to stakeholders. This represents a collaboration between LHSTM and RVC economists, and between the AMR groups in both institutions. The student will also be part of the London Centre for Integrative Research in Agriculture and Health (https://lcirah.ac.uk/) and benefit from interactions with a large multi-disciplinary team of researchers working in agriculture and health.

- Essential Requirements -
-Applicants must hold, or expected to achieve a first or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent, or an MSci or Masters in veterinary, biological, or economics science, health economics or animal health economics.
-Computer literate in a range of computer products including: word, excel, outlook

- Desirable Requirements -
-Experience in conducting interviews with livestock keepers and/or stakeholders involved in the supply of antibiotics
-Experience in conducting fieldwork research in developing countries, in particular in India or South-East Asia
-Knowledge on antibiotic usage in animal health and in One Health
-Experience in data analysis and in using statistical software (R, Stata)
-Good communication and writing skills

If you are interested in applying for this position, please follow the link below. Please use your personal statement to demonstrate:
- Previous experience of data collection and/or volunteer/paid work in low-middle income country setting, especially India.
- Knowledge of animal health economics or health economics,
- Knowledge and experience on the topic, in particular with antibiotic usage in animal health
- Communication skills
- Motivation to pursue doctoral studies