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Featured bySwansea University
Overview
Scholarship type
Merit based
Number of scholarships to award
Multiple
Grant
Full tuition waiver + £18,622
Scholarship coverage
- tuition fee reduction
- other
Description
Many animals form stable social relationships between specific individuals. These relationships are extremely beneficial but also come with costs. For example, trade-offs exist with respect to stress (social buffering versus social stress) and transmission of health (beneficial gut microbiota) and disease (parasites, viruses) but are little understood because of the challenges of collecting appropriate data in the wild. To understand these trade-offs, this interdisciplinary PhD will use and extend a worldwide unique data set on wild baboon social behaviour and health.
Sociality is studied in unprecedented detail, with simultaneous data for 16 individuals. GPS and acceleration data from bespoke tracking collars provide information on behaviour and social interactions/proximity every second over several months. Health information comes from >350 urine and >600 faecal samples collected in the field. These samples are matched to individuals and time periods, affording non-invasive investigation of reproductive state, stress physiology, immune function, energy and metabolic status, parasite load, and microbiome composition. Combining these data on baboon sociality and health therefore provides rare opportunity to investigate how and why social relationships evolve, and their consequences for individuals' health.
Applicable programmes
Benefits
This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £18,622 for 2023/24).
Additional research expenses will also be available.
Eligibility
- Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in Biosciences or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.
- The ideal candidate will have a master's level degree, research interests and expertise in animal behaviour and physiology, and excellent data handling and analysis skills relevant to the project.
- Applications from candidates with a strong quantitative background but without a first degree in biology are also encouraged
- Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.
Scholarship requirements
Disciplines
Biology
Locations
United Kingdom
Nationality
Any
Study experience required
Master
Age
Unknown
Application
Application deadline
15 May 2024
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
Course choice – please select Biological Sciences / PhD / Full-time / 3 Year / July (or October)
Start year – please select 2024
Funding (page 8) –
‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS562 - Baboon Sociality & Health'
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.