PhD Animal Behaviour and Welfare

The scientific study of animal behaviour and welfare furthers our understanding of why animals behave in the way that they do, and helps us learn how best to respond to the challenges that animals face when living in captive and wild environments. At Lincoln, this is informed by academics who are considered to be at the forefront of their respective fields in welfare assessment, animal management, evolutionary biology, and animal cognition, and the range of specialist facilities available includes aquatic and reptile facilities, an insectary, and a bioacoustics laboratory.

Students can benefit from training courses provided by the University to develop key skills in research. Under the guidance and advice of their PhD supervisors, students will be encouraged to present talks and seminars on their work both at the University of Lincoln as well at national and international meetings and conferences. Under the guidance of your PhD supervisors students will also be expected to produce progress reports, develop their ability to write up work for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and ultimately to effectively communicate their research and thesis.

Beyond learning how to conduct research and the specialist skills that students are expected to develop within their subject discipline (e.g. how to work in a molecular laboratory or conduct animal cognition experiments), the process of studying for a research degree can provide transferable skills in problem-solving, time management, independent and team work, and communication. Both the MPhil and PhD are awarded based on the quality of a student’s thesis and ability to present and successfully defend their chosen research topic in an oral examination (viva voce). They are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.