Posted June 23, 2025:
Trends in antimicrobial use and associations with
farm-level factors in Canadian grower-finisher pigs
A MSc opportunity, starting in September 2025, is available in the Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College under the supervision of Dr. Anne Deckert. This is a fully funded position available to domestic or permanent resident applications only.
DESCRIPTION: An exciting opportunity is available for a motivated MSc student to join a collaborative research project aimed at understanding the associations between antimicrobial use, health status, and other herd factors in Canadian finisher pigs. This research will utilize surveillance data from the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS). The project is based at the University of Guelph in collaboration with leading industry and government partners.
The Canadian swine industry recognizes the importance of continual improvement in antimicrobial stewardship. This MSc project will inform stewardship initiatives through the analysis of trends and associations at the farm-level using multiple quantitative epidemiologic approaches.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate will have strong oral and written communication skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and a keen interest in epidemiology, quantitative analysis, food-animal production, and knowledge translation. Previous research experience, including experience in both data analysis and the natural sciences, is considered an asset, but not required.
The student will:
- Receive training on advanced quantitative analysis techniques
- Conduct multiple analyses on a large, national, 15-year dataset from the CIPARS program
- Participate in team-based efforts to co-develop knowledge translation tools for producers and the CIPARS program
Applicants must meet the academic standards for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Guelph. Selection of the successful candidate will be based on a combination of academic excellence, relevant experience, career goals, and referee assessments.
APPLICATION PROCESS: To apply, please submit the following documents in a single email.
- Letter of interest outlining your motivation and relevant experience
- Your curriculum vitae (CV)
- An unofficial transcript
- Full contact information for two academic or professional references
Send your application to:
Maria Amezuca, Project Manager (mamezcua@uoguelph.ca)
Please cc Dr. Deckert (adeckert@uoguelph.ca) and Dr. O’Sullivan (tosulliv@uoguelph.ca)
Email subject line: MSC application – CIPARS AMU Project
At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted
Further inquiries related to this position can be directed to Anne Deckert.
To find more information about graduate and post-doctoral studies at UofG, follow the link https://graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca/programs/popmed
To find more information about applying to graduate studies at UofG, follow the link https://graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca/future/applying-guelph
