Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
MSc project: Is salivary oxytocin an indicator of affective states in pigs?
The concept of positive welfare recognizes the importance of offering animals the opportunity for rewarding experiences and fulfilled states, beyond the alleviation of suffering. Ensuring positive welfare requires close monitoring and reliable indicators. Oxytocin (OT) has been suggested as a physiological indicator of positive welfare states in domesticated animals, as increased OT levels have been linked to positive social experiences and decreased levels linked to negative situations. However, there is no clear evidence that OT concentrations necessarily correlate with positive outcomes. Furthermore, OT may be released upon exposures to physical or negative social events and modulate stress responses, seriously questioning the potential of OT as indicator of positive affective states. Some possible reasons for the discrepant reported results in non-human animals have been highlighted and remained to be addressed. Those include lack of standardization in methodology, reliable experimental design, and suboptimal sampling methodology. While most research on the relationship between OT and affective states has been conducted in human and non-human primates and rodents, reports in domesticated animals remain limited, especially in farms animals despite direct implications for their welfare. The results obtained from the present study will deepen the knowledge on the possible role of salivary oxytocin as an indicator of positive welfare.
Keywords: •Ethology
•Welfare
•Endocrinology
**Desired Profile**
•Agronomy
•Biology
**Requirements and Conditions**
•Bachelor's degree in agronomy, biology, or other relevant discipline
•English language competency
•Independence and capacity for teamwork
•Animal handling would be a plus
•Experience or strong interest in laboratory work
•Starting date: January/February 2025
**How to apply**
•Apply by email with the title of the project in the subject line and address it to Sébastien Goumon
•Provide an up-to-date CV, university transcripts and a cover letter.
•Deadline: until a suitable candidate is found
Location of the internship
ETH Zurich (Animal Physiology group) / Agrovet Strickhof, Eschikon 21., 8315 Lindau
**Duration**: 6 months
**Find out more about the group**
Please visit our website www.ap.ethz.ch. For questions about the position please contact Sébastien Goumon
**Desired Profile**
•Agronomy
•Biology
**Requirements and Conditions**
•Bachelor's degree in agronomy, biology, or other relevant discipline
•English language competency
•Independence and capacity for teamwork
•Animal handling would be a plus
•Experience or strong interest in laboratory work
•Starting date: January/February 2025
**How to apply**
•Apply by email with the title of the project in the subject line and address it to Sébastien Goumon
•Provide an up-to-date CV, university transcripts and a cover letter.
Please visit our website www.ap.ethz.ch. For questions about the position please contact Sébastien Goumon
The present study aims at assessing the possible role of salivary oxytocin as an indicator of affective states in pigs.
The present study aims at assessing the possible role of salivary oxytocin as an indicator of affective states in pigs.
**Supervisors**
Dr. Carmen Winters,
Dr. Sébastien Goumon and
Prof. Susanne E. Ulbrich
ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology group
Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Universitätstrasse 2.
8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Email: carmen.winters@usys.ethz.ch
Email: sebastien.goumon@usys.ethz.ch (for application)
Email: susanne.ulbrich@usys.ethz.ch
**Supervisors**
Dr. Carmen Winters,
Dr. Sébastien Goumon and
Prof. Susanne E. Ulbrich
ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology group Institute of Agricultural Sciences Universitätstrasse 2. 8092 Zurich, Switzerland