Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
With a series of behavioural and eye-tracking tests we want to investigate if pet dogs can see the world from others’ perspectives and in particular if they understand that others can make mistakes. In this project we will test pet dogs in behavioural tasks, such as the one described here: royalsociety.org/blog/2021/07/are-dogs-sensitive-to-human-mental-states/. Moreover, we will record videos to be shown to dogs who participate in eye-tracking tests. The main responsibilities during the internship will include: recruiting the dogs’ caregivers, for example through our database and social media; testing dogs in behavioural tasks; scoring videosof dogs' behaviours; reading the scientific literature on the topic; writing experimental protocols and documenting progress.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
•    Interpersonal skills (to recruit and interact with dogs’ caregivers)
•    Certified experience with dog training is preferred but not required
•    Fluent in English

Additional Information:
If this sounds interesting to you, and you have at least 4 months to dedicate to this project, please apply here: s.surveyplanet.com/llhm9yc3.

Planned duration of the thesis project:
Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025

Language of the Thesis:
English (preferred) or German

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Messerli Research Institute, Clever Dog Lab

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Contact: Lucrezia Lonardo, PhD (lucrezia.lonardo@vetmeduni.ac.at)
Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ludwig Huber (ludwig.huber@vetmeduni.ac.at)

Interested candidates may reply until:
As soon as possible 

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
While the population of dairy sheep in Austria is growing, the national data shows that their production efficiency is comparatively lower than dairy goats and cows. In general, little is known about dairy sheep farming in Austria, and the reasons for the low efficiency are not known. In the framework of the BIOS-funded project: SCHAFfen Wir. We will study dairy sheep farms. One important part of this project is a study of feed quality and nutritional status of dairy sheep.

We are looking for 2 research assistants to be part of this research. Your main tasks are i) to visit dairy sheep farms and collect representative feed and milk samples and ii) to conduct in vitro experiments at the Vetmeduni main campus. You will visit about 20 farms around Salzburg and Lower Austria regions. Farm visits can be partitioned and organized in a way that fits your schedule. After acquiring all samples, we will plan and conduct in vitro experiments using a gas test technique to investigate rumen fermentation degradability of diet components.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge in ruminant nutrition
• Have driving license and keen on visiting farms
• Good communication in German and English

Additional Information:
Farm sampling is planned between August – November 2024. The time required to complete all samplings depends on the schedule. Ideally, this could be done in 2 weeks. Travel costs (car rental, car fuel, hotel) will be financed by the project. Once samples are collected, we will plan the in vitro experiment, which will take about 1-1.5 months (with breaks in between).

Planned duration of the thesis project:
6 months

Language of the Thesis:
English

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Centre for Animal Nutrition and Welfare

Contact Person for the Thesis:

• Dr. Ratchaneewan Khiaosa-ard
• ratchaneewan.khiaosa-ard@vetmeduni.ac.at

Interested candidates may reply until: 
 

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
With a series of behavioural and eye-tracking tests we want to investigate if pet dogs can see the world from others’ perspectives and in particular if they understand that others can make mistakes. In this project we will test pet dogs in behavioural tasks, such as the one described here: royalsociety.org/blog/2021/07/are-dogs-sensitive-to-human-mental-states/. Moreover, we will record videos to be shown to dogs who participate in eye-tracking tests. The main responsibilities during the internship will include: recruiting the dogs’ caregivers, for example through our database and social media; testing dogs in behavioural tasks; scoring videosof dogs' behaviours; reading the scientific literature on the topic; writing experimental protocols and documenting progress.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
•    BSc in Biology or related field
•    Interpersonal skills (to recruit and interact with dogs’ caregivers)
•    Certified experience with dog training is preferred but not required

Additional Information:
If this sounds interesting to you, and you have at least 4 months to dedicate to this project, please apply here: s.surveyplanet.com/llhm9yc3.

Planned duration of the thesis project:
Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025

Language of the Thesis:
English

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Messerli Research Institute, Clever Dog Lab

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Contact: Lucrezia Lonardo, PhD (lucrezia.lonardo@vetmeduni.ac.at)
Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ludwig Huber (ludwig.huber@vetmeduni.ac.at)

Interested candidates may reply until: 
As soon as possible

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and affects over 7 million people worldwide. Metastasis to distant organs is the main cause of death of these patients, which underlines the need for novel therapeutic means.
NK cells are effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system and the first line of defense in anti-tumor responses. They are also crucial to limit metastasis but their function is often strongly suppressed by the cancer environment.
Immune checkpoints are crucial regulators of immune cells guaranteeing controlled actions and preventing autoimmunity. Cancer growth and progression are associated with immune suppression and immune evasion. One of the evasion mechanisms of cancer cells is the ability to activate such immune checkpoints thereby preventing the cytotoxic ability of immune cells.
In this project, we plan to study changes of NK cells in the course of metastatic breast cancer to identify new checkpoints on NK cells, the inhibition of which, unleashes the NK cell response against metastasizing cells.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• BSc Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine or a related subject
• Basic knowledge in immunology and tumor biology
• Experience with sterile cell culture work
• Fluent in English

Additional Information:
The successful applicant will join a collaborative research project with the Karl Landsteiner University. The project will be carried out at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna under the supervision of an experienced junior group leader and involves work with primary cell culture, biochemical assays, flow cytometry an in vivo mouse models

Planned duration of the thesis project:
01.10.2024 to 01.10.2025

Language of the Thesis:
English

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Ass.Prof. Dagmar Gotthardt, PhD
dagmar.gotthardt@vetmeduni.ac.at
+43 1 25077-2900

Interested candidates may reply until: 
as soon as possible

Short Description of the Thesis/Topic:
Colitis is a frequent and serious problem in horses as well as humans. The pathophysiological mechanisms are supposed to involve a complex crosstalk between immune cells and epithelial cells that results in destruction of the epithelial barrier and further progression of disease. This project aims to establish a co-culture model of equine colon epithelium and immune cells to characterize the signalling pathways involved and to test new therapeutic approaches.

Required Skills and Knowledge:
High motivation, experience in cell culture work and/or molecular biology;  
BSc degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine or a related subject 

Further Information:
We offer a highly supportive team, established methods and guidance by supervisor and colleagues.

Language of the Thesis:
German or English

Duration of the thesis:
6 months

Name of the Institute/Clinic/Unit:
Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Contact Person for the Thesis:
Franziska Dengler - Franziska.dengler@vetmdeuni.ac.at
Jessika Cavalleri - Jessika.cavalleri@vetmeduni.ac.at

Feedback from students requested by:
as soon as possible, flexible starting date

Please send a short CV and motivation letter.