PhD Position in Equine Health, Welfare, and Human-Horse Interactions at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences is recruiting a PhD student for the One Welfare Equine Lab, starting Fall 2027.
The project focuses on
equine health
,
animal welfare
, and
human-horse interactions
, especially how interactions during clinical care, husbandry procedures, and training affect horse health, welfare, and human well-being.
The student will take a leadership role in the research program, including organizing and conducting experiments, coordinating with horse owners and industry professionals, supervising research assistants, collecting behavioral and physiological data, and contributing to manuscript writing.
Ideal applicants should have strong interpersonal and leadership skills, formal training in applied animal behavior research, a research background with publications, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Minimum requirements include a
Master’s degree
in animal science, animal health/welfare, applied ethology, animal biology, or a related field by Fall 2027; strong communication and organizational skills; and experience with
STATA or R
plus Microsoft Office.
Preferred experience includes equine handling, coursework in animal behavior/welfare science, behavior coding tools such as
Noldus Observer
, and physiological data collection methods such as heart rate monitors, cortisol, and thermal imaging.
Funding support is available in the form of a stipend, though the student is expected to pursue additional scholarship funding.
To apply, email a CV and cover letter to Dr. Lindsay Nakonechny at
[email protected]
.
