Post-doctoral candidate in social behaviour, cognition, communication and welfare of goats

    • Application Deadline
      Deadline:
      14 November 2017
      (application date has expired)
    • Contact Name
      Contact:
      Dr Alan McElligott


    My research group is focussed on developing goats as model species for comparative cognition and welfare studies. In doing so, we hope to further an appreciation of the need for excellent animal welfare practices in this and other livestock species. Traditionally, animal welfare research focussed on identifying and preventing poor welfare. However, preventing poor welfare is not the same as providing animals with opportunities to experience positive welfare. Therefore gaining a better understanding of the cognitive abilities of goats and other livestock is critical for progress. I have potential comparative cognition and behaviour PhD research projects, using goats as the model species. The topics are open to discussion, but may include: emotions, social networks, long-term memory and recognition, social learning, personality, physical and social cognition, and vocal communication.

    The project will potentially combine behavioural observations, cognition experiments, as well as playback experiments and bioacoustics. All data collection will be carried at an animal sanctuary, using a large number of habituated animals. The successful candidate will need to be able to work independently, as well as working as part of a team. It is extremely important that the successful candidate can maintain our excellent working relationship with the host animal sanctuary.

    Ranked 9th in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, Queen Mary is one of the largest colleges in the University of London and one of the UK's leading research-intensive institutions, joining the Russell Group in 2012. The College has made a strategic commitment to world class research and teaching across all its disciplines. Within Queen Mary, the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences is a large and expanding academic unit, which provides a supportive and friendly environment and encourages interdisciplinary research.

    The School is committed to Athena SWAN principles and the promotion of equality and diversity. The School currently holds a Silver Athena SWAN Award.

    Applicants wishing to apply for Marie Sklodowska Curie Individual Fellowship, or funding through science foundations in Germany, Switzerland and France (or any others) are welcomed. If interested, please send an email that briefly outlines a research idea, a short CV, and sources of funding that you have identified.

    References
    Baciadonna L, McElligott AG (2015) The use of judgement bias to assess welfare in farm livestock. Animal Welfare 24, 81-91.
    Briefer EF, Oxley J, McElligott AG (2015) Autonomic nervous system reactivity in a free-ranging mammal: effects of dominance rank and personality. Animal Behaviour 110, 121-132.
    Briefer EF, Tettamanti F, McElligott AG (2015) Emotions in goats: mapping physiological, behavioural and vocal profiles. Animal Behaviour 99, 131-143.
    Briefer EF, Haque S, Baciadonna L, McElligott AG (2014) Goats excel at learning and remembering a highly novel cognitive task. Frontiers in Zoology 11, 20.
    Briefer EF, McElligott AG (2013) Rescued goats at a sanctuary display positive mood after former neglect. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 145, 45-55.
    Baciadonna L, McElligott AG, Briefer EF (2013) Goats favour personal over social information in an experimental foraging task. PEERJ 1: e172
    Briefer EF, McElligott AG (2011) Mutual mother-offspring recognition in an ungulate hider species, (Capra hircus). Animal Cognition 14, 585-598.
    Briefer EF, McElligott AG (2011) Indicators of age, body size and sex in goat kid calls revealed using the source-filter theory. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 133, 175-185.
    Briefer EF, McElligott AG (2012) Social effects on vocal ontogeny in an ungulate, the goat (Capra hircus). Animal Behaviour 83, 991-1000.
    Briefer EF, Padilla de la Torre M, McElligott AG (2012) Mother goats do not forget their kids' calls. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B 279, 3749-3755


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