Graduate Student Positions
If you are interested in one of the positions below, or a post-doctoral position, please directly contact an appropriate Faculty member
Graduate Student in Cattle and Environmental Stress
Stressful maternal events during pregnancy can modulate the development of fetal tissues, with potential long-term effects on the offspring, perhaps due to the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increased cortisol production. Thermal stress during various stages of pregnancy can alter fetal development with potential long-term damaging effects on fertility in replacement heifers. Most reports about thermal stress are focused on high temperatures in dairy cattle (heat stress), with few reports on beef cattle.
Start Date: The position will start May 2023
Supervisor: Dr. Juan Hernandez Medrano
Fully funded PhD opportunities
Project Details: The spread of wild pigs across Canada is significantly changing the epidemiological context and previously understood risks related to reportable and emerging diseases. This project, funded by Result Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), will address three main objectives:
- Use wild pig monitoring data to understand wild pig distributions, population dynamics and spread across Alberta, and the potential of wild pigs to facilitate disease spread between previously isolated epidemiological systems.
- Characterize intra- and inter-species contact structure between wild pigs and livestock (beef cattle and domestic pigs) through wildlife monitoring and engagement with producers.
- Increase surveillance in wild pigs of common livestock pathogens to better understand pathogen transmission among wild pigs, and between wild pigs and livestock.
Start Date: The positions will start in July 2022 at the earliest or September 2022 at the latest
Supervisor: Mathieu Pruvot
Unique research intern / graduate student opportunity (May 2022 – April 2024)
The Canadian Angus Association and University of Calgary are partnering on a project to estimate genetic parameters for female fertility traits in Canadian Angus cattle. This position is a unique opportunity to work with industry while completing the thesis-based master’s program at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This is an excellent opportunity to undertake critical and novel research, and develop expertise in
genetic modelling, big data analytics, and scientific communication. We are looking for a detail-oriented student to join our team full-time from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2024. You must enjoy working as part of a team, have accurate data entry skills, basic statistical analysis skills, be able to work independently, and have a valid driver’s licence.
Supervisor: Karin Orsel
Graduate Studentship opportunity (MSc or PhD)
A graduate studentship (MSc or PhD) opportunity exists in the Gilleard laboratory.
Research Area: Investigation of macrocyclic lactone drug resistance in cattle lice and the development of rapid pen-side molecular diagnostics.
This is an excellent opportunity to undertake important and novel research, develop expertise in parasitology/entomology and in cutting-edge next generation sequencing and molecular diagnostic approaches. The graduate student will join a research group of 10-15 members and will interact with a wider vibrant team of infectious disease, genomics and bioinformatics
researchers. They will receive a competitive stipend and be enrolled in the Veterinary Medical Sciences graduate program. They will also be a member of our award-winning Host-Parasite Interactions (HPI) research training network which comprises 19 principal investigators and >70 trainees engaged in community engagement and professional development activities.
Supervisor: John Gilleard
Graduate Student in Pluripotent Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology (PhD or MSc)
Research: The research aim of graduate studies will be to investigate the nature of species-specific pluripotent stem cells and in vitro modeling to mimic development and disease states that are otherwise challenging to study. Our approaches include live-cell imaging, gene editing & molecular biology tools, single-cell and bulk RNA-seq, mouse genetics and comparative biology focused on species-specific features. We are also interested in developing therapies for congenital conditions such as spinal deformity.
Supervisor: Li-Fang (Jack) Chu
Graduate Student Opportunity: (PhD or MSc)
with Dr. Jeroen De Buck.
This position is open for people holding a degree in biological sciences, animal sciences, veterinary medicine, health sciences or equivalent degree.
Two Graduate Student Opportunities
with Dr. Dongyan Niu in the Department of Ecosystem & Public Health
PhD student position available in Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
with Dr. Daniel Pang
Research Area: The successful applicant will undertake research into current and novel methods of euthanasia in laboratory rodents. The project will involve behavioral and physiologic measures of responses to different euthanasia methods.
PhD student position available in Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences
with Dr. Daniel Pang.
Research Area: The successful applicant will undertake research investigating safety, errors and adverse events in clinical veterinary practice. The project will involve quantifying current rates and types of errors and adverse events, and developing tools and strategies to improve patient safety.
Graduate Student Opportunity: PhD Fellowship in Intestinal Innate Immunity and Host Defense Peptides
with Dr. Eduardo Cobo in the Department of Production Animal Health
Graduate Student Opportunity: (PhD and MSc) Four positions available in veterinary microbiology
on projects related to Johne's disease, digital dermatitis, mastitis and bovine tuberculosis - vaccines, diagnostic development, metagenomics and immunology with Dr. Jeroen De Buck in the Department of Production and Animal Health.
Graduate Student Opportunity: Host defense peptides in the pathogenesis of inflammatory intestinal diseases
with Dr. Eduardo Cobo in the Department of Production Animal Health