Reasons for rabbits, Guinea pigs and other exotic species to attend veterinary practice – a PhD in health data science and text mining.

Description

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodent species which are generally considered “exotic”, are becoming increasingly owned as pets. Despite this, research into their welfare is often neglected, in part because of the challenges of accessing data on these populations.  

Using large volumes of electronic health records (EHRs) collected from a sentinel network of veterinary practices across the UK we have shown we can identify new trends in rabbit diseases such as myxomatosis and fly strike. Here, we will carry out a complementary package of work including modern text mining and epidemiological methods on these large and growing data sets of EHRs to identify the main reasons that rabbits, guinea pigs and other small rodent species present to veterinary practice, identifying important factors such as diet (where recorded), age, sex and neuter status associated with highest disease risk, and how these are impacted by geography and time. We will also train someone with a passion for the health of these species in data science and text mining. 

Understanding important diseases in the target species will allow the applicants, funders, local practitioners and others to develop evidenced-based targeted health messages, aimed at both veterinary professionals and the public, to help make the most informed decisions around the care of these species. Outputs of this research will be disseminated both in the scientific literature (open access), at scientific conferences, but also on public facing websites such as https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/savsnet.at.liverpool/ 

The successful candidate will receive training in important aspects of epidemiology and data science including modern methods in text mining including machine learning. Funded by Burgess Group plc, this training post will be based at the University of Liverpool’s Leahurst campus. It is suitable for someone with a passion for animal health that is keen to learn computer and data science, or a data scientist who wants to learn to apply their existing skills in a health context. The successful candidate will have either a first class or a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. At the end of the PhD this post will be well placed to compete for a wide range of data science jobs both within and outside academia. 

To apply:

To apply please send a CV and cover letter to savsnet@liverpool.ac.uk, explaining why you feel this particular PhD is right for you, both in terms of your previous experience and your future intentions. The deadline for applications is Sunday 4^th December. We are expecting to interview shortlisted candidates around the 19^th December, which will be online in the first instance.

For application enquires please contact Professor Alan Radford; alanrad@liverpool.ac.uk