PhD Scholarship in Animal Science: Feed Efficiency and Methane Reduction in Sheep
Applications are open for a
PhD scholarship
at
The University of Western Australia
in a highly applied project on
feed efficiency
and
methane reduction
in
sheep systems
. The project is aligned with the
Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC
and is based at the
Katanning Research Facility
in Western Australia.
The research will contribute to a national effort to develop new breeding values for
methane emissions
and
feed intake
in sheep. The successful candidate will work with large-scale animal measurements, genotyped animals, automated feed intake systems, and methane measurement technologies such as Portable Accumulation Chambers (PACs). The project is designed to produce outcomes that are directly relevant to sheep producers, breeders, and industry partners.
Research interests include
animal science
,
livestock production
,
animal genetics
,
methane mitigation
,
feed efficiency
, and practical measurement approaches for on-farm decision-making. The project aims to understand how methane emissions and feed intake relate to productivity, animal biology, nutrient utilisation, and management factors such as water quality and source.
Funding:
This is a stipend scholarship with a value of
AUD $38,110 per year
for
3.5 years
(indexed).
Eligibility highlights:
Applicants must meet UWA PhD admission requirements, have a completed or near-completion Honours or Master degree in animal nutrition, livestock production, animal genetics, or a similar field, and be fluent in English. Familiarity with Australian livestock farming systems is essential. The opportunity is for
domestic applicants only
, and the student must be willing to live and work full-time at or near Katanning.
Application window:
Opened 07 May 2026 and closes 31 May 2026.
How to apply:
Use the UWA scholarship application portal, then contact the lead WA DPIRD researcher,
Beth Paganoni
, with your CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of domestic status and willingness to be based near Katanning.