News: Animals in Science

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  • Congratulations to these Winter 2022 Graduates who have worked with the AWP this past year!

    Congratulations to these Winter 2022 Graduates who have worked with the AWP this past year!

    Congratulations to Allison Welk on graduating with her Masters degree in Applied Animal Biology! Her research focused on investigating the effects of intake-based weaning and forage type on the feeding behaviour and performance of dairy calves. Allison is currently a PhD student at the University of Guelph where she continues to research the health and welfare of…

  • Two Graduate Positions Available: Welfare of Companion Dogs in Commercial Breeding Contexts; Behaviour and Welfare of Rabbits

    Two Graduate Positions Available: Welfare of Companion Dogs in Commercial Breeding Contexts; Behaviour and Welfare of Rabbits

    Please note – we are no longer accepting applications for these roles. Please watch our website for future opportunities! Applications are invited for two MSc or PhD positions in the Animal Welfare Program, Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia. The starting time frame for these positions…

  • Undergraduate Researchers are Making an Impact in Animal Welfare!

    Undergraduate Researchers are Making an Impact in Animal Welfare!

    The Animal Welfare Program is thrilled to support undergraduate students in developing their research expertise through a number of programs. We would like to introduce you to a few of the students conducting research in the summer of 2022 that cover a range of disciplines within the program. You can read even more research stories…

  • AWP Undergraduate Work Learn Positions

    AWP Undergraduate Work Learn Positions

    The Animal Welfare Program has received funding through UBC’s Work Learn Program to hire current UBC undergraduate students in a number of different positions for September 2022 to April 2023!  These are part time positions (maximum of 300 hours).  To see if you are eligible for the program, visit the Work Learn website. In order to apply,…

  • Making Science More Accessible: Three Graduate Students Share how they are Communicating Research

    Making Science More Accessible: Three Graduate Students Share how they are Communicating Research

    Peer-reviewed literature has traditionally been seen as the gold-standard of research communications.  While the academic journal is still an important way of sharing knowledge with other academics, the high cost of journal subscriptions and open-access publishing fees can make this approach inaccessible for many. Researchers are increasingly aware that academic journals are only one way…

  • Meet PhD candidate Michael Brunt

    Meet PhD candidate Michael Brunt

    Michael Brunt is a PhD Candidate with the Animal Welfare Program whose research addresses perceptions of transparency and how these influence the societal acceptance of animals used for research.  Before coming to the AWP at UBC, Michael worked as a research animal professional for 18 years, frequently encountering questions from friends and family about how…

  • Individual differences in rat sensitivity to carbon dioxide

    Individual differences in rat sensitivity to carbon dioxide

    Post-Doctoral Researcher Dr. Lucia Amendola, PhD student Anna Ratuski, and Dr. Dan Weary have recently published an article in PloS One on the individual differences in rat sensitivity to CO2. While CO2 is commonly used for rodent euthanasia, this gas elicits negative emotions in rats, but the negative experience is different between individuals. Authors found…

  • Review: scientific evidence of emotional distress during CO2 exposure in rodents

    Review: scientific evidence of emotional distress during CO2 exposure in rodents

    Dr. Lucia Amendola, Post-Doctoral Researcher and Dr. Dan Weary have recently published a review in the journal Translational Psychiatry, reviewing scientific evidence of emotional distress during CO2 exposure. World-wide, most rodents that are used for scientific purposes are killed with carbon dioxide (CO2), but for years debate has swirled regarding the humaneness of this agent. The review,…

  • Anna Ratuski awarded NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship

    Anna Ratuski awarded NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship

    Animal Welfare Program student Anna Ratuski has been awarded the prestigious NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship for her Doctoral (CGS D) Program! Anna’s current project focuses on housing refinements for breeding rats and their litters, and access to enriched playpens for standard-housed laboratory mice. Congratulations Anna! https://www.grad.ubc.ca/campus-community/meet-our-students/ratuski-anna

  • Michael Brunt presentation – Applying animal ethics: The use of animals in science

    Michael Brunt presentation – Applying animal ethics: The use of animals in science

    Michael Brunt, a PhD student in the Animal Welfare Program, will be speaking at the “Ethics for Lunch” seminar series about applying animal ethics: the use of animals in Science. All are welcome and no registration required! Come see Michael speak or dial in for video conferencing. Wednesday March 18, 202012:00 PM to 1:00 PMSt…