The impacts of livestock management on wildlife on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by gut microbiome

About the Project

Wildlife conservation efforts in the Tibetan Plateau, a critical habitat for diverse wild species, have long been a priority. Reported space and pathogen sharing of livestock and wild animals suggested reciprocal impacts on health between the two groups. To understand their interactions, we propose to analyze their gut microbiome, which plays a key role in host health and adaptation. By tracing gut bacterial strains and genes, we aim to identify the microbial exchange between livestock and wildlife, and the functional analysis will give insight into adaptation mechanisms, resistome expansion, and pathogen transmission. This study will not only help us understand how livestock and wildlife affect each other, but also guide livestock management and wildlife conservation.

For more information about doctoral scholarship and PhD programme at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), please visit:

https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/global/entry-requirements/

https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/global/fees-and-scholarship

Supervisors:

• Principal supervisor: Dr. Min Tang (XJTLU)
• Co-supervisor: Dr. Zheng Chen (XJTLU)
• Co-supervisor: Dr. Lingyun Xiao (XJTLU)
• Co-supervisor: Professor Greg Hurst (UoL)

Requirements:

A Master's degree with Merit and a Bachelor's degree with first-class or upper second-class honors are required for PhD admissions. Exceptional candidates holding only a Bachelor's degree may be considered on an individual basis in certain disciplines.

Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above, if the first language is not English. This position is open to all qualified candidates irrespective of nationality.

Degree:

The student will be awarded a PhD degree from the University of Liverpool (UK) upon successful completion of the program.

Funding:

The PhD studentship is available for three years subject to satisfactory progress by the student. The award covers tuition fees for three years (currently equivalent to RMB 99,000 per annum). It also provides up to RMB 16,500 to allow participation at international conferences during the period of the award. The scholarship holders are expected to conduct the majority of their research at XJTLU in Suzhou, China. However, they may apply for a short-term research visit to the University of Liverpool if the project requires it.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are advised to email min.tang@xjtlu.edu.cn (XJTLU principal supervisor’s email address) the following documents for initial review and assessment (please put the project title in the subject line).

• CV
• Two formal reference letters
• Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
• Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
• Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available