Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Population Medicine - Early-Life Morbidity and Lung Consolidation as Predictors of Lifetime Productivity in Dairy Cattle - Dr. Kristen Edwards
Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Advisor
Project Overview
This M.Sc. (coursework-based) project will leverage an existing, well-characterized dataset of preweaning calf health and lung consolidation collected from commercial dairy operations. The student will extend this dataset by extracting and integrating longitudinal performance data from herd management software (DairyComp 305), including retention, reproductive outcomes (e.g., conception), and first-lactation milk production.
Working within an applied epidemiological framework, the student will focus on data management, integration of multi-source datasets, and quantitative analysis to evaluate the long-term production and reproductive consequences of early-life disease.
Objectives
The student will work with Dr. Edwards and collaborators to:
- Extract, merge and validate longitudinal herd data from DairyComp 305
- Define and construct key outcomes, including:
- Retention within the herd (e.g., survival to first calving)
- Reproductive performance (e.g., conception metrics)
- First-lactation milk production (e.g., 305-day yield)
- Evaluate associations between early-life health parameters and long-term outcomes using appropriate epidemiological and statistical approaches
- Prepare results for dissemination (e.g., thesis, conference presentation, and/or manuscript)
Program Details
Program: M.Sc. in Population Medicine (course-based)
Start date: Fall 2026
Funding: The student’s tuition will be fully covered for the duration of the program. The student will be supported in applying for internal and external scholarships to supplement this funding.
Application deadline: May 31, 2026
Eligibility: Open to domestic students and permanent residents
Required Education Level and Background
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a minimum of an undergraduate degree in animal science, veterinary science, epidemiology or a related field who has a strong interest in dairy cattle health, production and applied epidemiology.
Who should apply
Ideal candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong academic performance (minimum 70% or B- average or equivalent)
- Excellent organizational and data management skills
- Attention to detail and ability to work with large, real-world datasets
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Application
Interested candidates should submit the following documents to Dr. Kristen Edwards (kedwar01@uoguelph.ca):
- Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
- Cover letter outlining research interests, relevant experience, and career goals
- Copies of unofficial academic transcripts
Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the position is filled.
Equity and Inclusion
At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. We invite and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from groups that are traditionally underrepresented, who may contribute to further diversification of our institution.