PhD studentship: Improving dairy cattle health through zero-grazing University of Prince Edward Island (Canada) and University of Nairobi

A PhD studentship/scholarship is available to start in early September 2024 for a period of up to 42 months. The student will be registered at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada where s/he will undertake coursework but will conduct research/data collection in Kenya. The research project involves the costs and benefits of zero-grazing for smallholder dairy farms.
It is anticipated that the successful PhD candidate will travel to Canada in August 2024 to undertake the coursework classes and then return to Kenya in May 2025 to conduct the research.

Candidate requirements/assets for PhD:
1. must be Kenyan;
2. must have a degree in Veterinary Medicine and must be a member of the Kenya Veterinary Association and be registered by the Kenya Veterinary Board;
3. must have an MSc (preferably be in Epidemiology or Medicine involving smallholder dairy cattle management, although other areas of specialisation within smallholder farming systems will be considered);
4. must have excellent interpersonal skills;
5. must have excellent written and oral communication skills;
6. should have > 1 year of clinical work experience with Kenyan smallholder dairy farmers; and
7. must have the ability to work well as part of a group and independently.

Funding:

Funding is provided by the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program and will cover the university tuition fees and international fees, plus transportation to and from Canada and living expenses while in Canada, and living expenses while in Kenya where the research will take place.

How to apply:
Please send applications to Prof. George Gitau (University of Nairobi - gkgitau@uonbi.ac.ke) and Prof. John VanLeeuwen (University of Prince Edward Island – jvanleeuwen@upei.ca ). For informal enquiries, please contact Prof. George Gitau, gkgitau@uonbi.ac.ke. Suitable candidates will be contacted after the closing date. Interviews are expected to be held shortly after the closing date for shortlisted candidates only.
A complete application will include:
1. a cover letter (one page) briefly describing why you are applying and what makes you a good candidate (including experience and activities with smallholder dairy cattle, and in particular, please refer to the selection requirements/assets and research project mentioned above);
2. an up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume, including a list of 3 references (one being the MSc supervisor), and their contact information;
3. a transcript of marks obtained during your veterinary degree and master’s degree; and
4. copies of published papers from the MSc thesis or electronic copy of the thesis.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Deadline for applications: 5:00 pm Kenyan time on Friday, October 16th, 2023.