What you'll investigate

This project will focus on understanding and improving the welfare of horses from various disciplines (e.g., Racing, Dressage, Service, etc.). It will achieve this by surveying key stakeholders across various equine industries and applying contemporary sports science techniques and technology to monitor the wellbeing of horses in response to their training and competition exposure.

The project is a collaboration between ACU and Concept Equine. The successful applicant will be based at ACU's Melbourne campus, and some off-site work will be required.

Scholarship package

The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:

* International candidates only

Your research community

Principal supervisor

Dr Paul Tofari

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Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Research at the Faculty of Health Sciences is driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes and advancing evidence-based practice across diverse communities. With a strong interdisciplinary focus, our researchers collaborate across nursing, allied health, public health, and biomedical sciences to address pressing health challenges locally and globally.

Visit the faculty research website

Affiliation

Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre

SPRINT is Research Centre within the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences at ACU and consists of internationally recognized sports scientists working towards advancing knowledge in the areas of performance, recovery and injury. We deliver impactful and timely research using cutting edge research techniques. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality and impactful research.

Visit the SPRINT website

Industry partner

Concept Equine

Concept Equine is a company consisting of veterinarians and a sports scientist focused on improving and maintaining the welfare of horses. They have extensive experience working in the thoroughbred racing industry, implementing strategies to ensure the welfare and longevity of horses in their care during and following their racing careers. Their experience includes monitoring training loads and the response to this load in thoroughbred racehorses.

How to apply

Applications close: Open until awarded

Step 1: Assess your eligibility

Eligibility

Before you apply, confirm you meet the following eligibility criteria:

• This opportunity is open to domestic and international applicants.
• The eligibility criteria for the PhD program at ACU can be found in the Higher Degree Research Policy.
• The eligibility criteria for research scholarships can be found in the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.

Requirements

In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicant should have:

• a strong interest in improving animal welfare and an interest in working with horses
• experience in an applied sports science setting as a practitioner and/or researcher
• experience in and a desire to develop skills in sports data analytics and visualisation using common programming languages such as R or Python.

Conditions

By applying, you acknowledge and accept the following conditions:

• The scholarship package is subject to satisfactory progress and full-time study mode.
• The scholarship conditions align with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy.
• The successful applicant will be required to assign their intellectual property (IP) to ACU as a condition of enrolment.

Step 2: Express your interest

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Paul Tofari prior to applying for the PhD program and scholarship, to express their interest and discuss the project in detail.

Email: paul.tofari@acu.edu.au

Step 3: Submit your application

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at ACU, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions, plus:

• A CV outlining relevant academic and practical experience; and
• A cover letter detailing demonstrated interest and/or experience in the program of research described.

When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Equine Welfare and Performance: A Sports Science Approach".