Investigating the behaviour relating to animals and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Project Description

This is a three year PhD which is part of a collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Cranswick. To date there have been relatively few studies, in the pork sector that have investigated the Behaviour relating to animals and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). There is an urgent need to understand the use of antibiotics in pork, including the relationship with human health and wellbeing.

Project objectives are:
• To map the pork chain actors (from farm to fork) and processes in order to identify drivers, motivations and practices of the pork industry sector
• To explore farmers’ and processors’ perceptions of AMR, the extent to which AMR is perceived as a ‘human health’ issue and to identify options to raise awareness of AMR as well as barriers to using alternatives to antibiotics
• To investigate the influence of retailers and consumer organisations on farm practice to understand how it can be utilised to positively influence farmers’ practices
• To model alternative scenarios to antibiotic use investigate the short, medium, long term effects on a pork production business from lessons learned in other countries such as Denmark

The student will be based primarily in QUB and the project includes a minimum of 3-month industrial placement at Cranswick UK.

REQUIREMENTS
Education
Candidates should have a First class or Upper Second honours degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Psychology, Biological Sciences or related subject and/or an MSc in Food safety/Nutrition/Health Psychology/Public Health/related subject.

English Language
Candidates applying from countries where the first language is not English should produce evidence of their competence through a qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL score.

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.
*Taken within the last 2 years

For a list of English Language qualifications also accepted by the School and University please see the following link:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/StudyatQueens/InternationalStudents/EnglishLanguageRequirements/

Comprehensive information on eligibility/entry requirements and other key aspects of PhD programmes are available on the University’s website, please follow the link, http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Course-Finder/PCF1718/PRCF1718/Course/FoodSafetyandNutrition.html