Animal Science Global Professional Education Intern – Deadline: 14 Dec 2019

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Animal Science Global Professional Education Intern

Enhancing the reproducibility, reliability and translatability of research animal studies globally

There is an exciting opportunity for a Professional Internship for PhD student (PIPS) to contribute to the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology’s Integrative and Organ Systems (IUPHAR IOSP) Initiative led by Dr Dave Lewis (University of Leeds) to enhance the reproducibility, reliability and translatability of studies involving research (laboratory, farm and wild) animals in the Emerging World.

Background to IUPHARs IOSP Initiative

Countries in the Emerging World face many Grand Challenges including the prevention of diseases in humans and farm animals relevant to their country, sustainable health and wellbeing, and secure and resilient food systems. Studies involving research animals (farm, laboratory, wild) are critical in understanding both human and animal diseases, and in developing preventative measures or new treatments for them. Many countries in the Emerging World are also using the development of their national Pharmaceutical industry as a route to economic development. Attention to animal welfare and care is critical in ensuring that these animal studies translate into clinical practice. However, there is a severe shortage of individuals in the Emerging World with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake these research animal studies. Education and training opportunities in the discipline are scarce and patchy, animal ethics committees are in their infancy or non-existent.

To address this human capacity or skills shortage, in 2005 IUPHAR established its Integrative and Organ Systems Pharmacology (IOSP) initiative.  Led by Dr Dave Lewis, Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Bioethics at the University of Leeds (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-lewis-ba927a8/), the IOSP Initiative is a global Knowledge Exchange and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme in research animal sciences, welfare and ethics.  Dave works with colleagues, professional bodies, regulatory authorities and Governments to co-create and co-deliver educational, training and CPD opportunities, Train the Educator/Trainer courses, and the sharing of good practice for all those involved in the care or use of research animals in India, China and across Africa.

Role of the PIPS intern

We are looking for a PIPS intern to work with Dr Dave Lewis and his international collaborators to co-create educational resources in research animal sciences, animal welfare and ethics and co-deliver these as Continuing Professional Development opportunities in Egypt and potentially India.

Specifically you will:

  • Co-create and co-deliver with Dr Lewis and international partners a Continuing Professional Development course for researchers and others involved in the care and use of research animals in Egypt (6-7th March 2020) and potentially India (Late Feb 2020)
  • Evaluate the outcomes and impact of these and previous courses/activities
  • Re-purpose the educational/training resources from these and previous courses into open educational resources such that they can be reused by colleagues in the Emerging World in their own activities/courses
  • Create a website that can act as a repository for these open educational resources

It will be an extremely interesting and challenging role, with an opportunity to have a substantial impact on science, animal welfare and policy in the Emerging World.  It will expose you to, and increase your knowledge and understanding of, research in the Emerging World, and the challenges faced by researchers there.  You will develop and utilise a huge number of critical employability skills and therefore this is an opportunity for substantial personal and professional development. Full expenses for any overseas trips will be paid for you.

What we expect from you

This PIPS is open to anybody who has a background in animal sciences – zoology, biology, pharmacology, physiology or related disciplines.  Ideally you will hold a personal licence under the UK Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act or similar education and training from another country or have worked with research animals (wild or farm) licenced under other legislation.  You will need good communication skills, be a team-player, flexible, adaptable, and good at problem solving.

How to apply

To apply for this placement, send your CV with a covering letter (of around 500 words), explaining why you are interested in the role, what you feel you can bring to it and what you hope to get out of it, to Dr Dave Lewis (email:  d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk)

The deadline for applications is 11:59 hours on Saturday 14th December 2019

For further details or more information, contact Dr Dave Lewis (email: d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk, Tel: 0113 343 4233)