I have been asked to submit the following advertisement to allstat. 
Please send replies to the addresses below, not to me.

Chris Theobald
School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh
and Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland
____________________________________________

PhD STUDENTSHIPS X 2
A STATISTICAL APPROACH (META-ANALYSIS) TO UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT PORK 
QUALITY
(R&D/SLS/270/07)


Two PhD positions are available from September 2007 at the Sustainable 
Livestock Systems Research Group of the Scottish Agricultural College 
(SAC), Edinburgh, UK and the Department of Animal Genetics, National 
Institute of Agronomy Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France, respectively.

A new large scale European project on improving the quality of pork and 
pork products for the consumer has begun in 2007.  One module is 
dedicated to the integration of existing and upcoming data to produce a 
model for predicting technological and sensory pork quality, based on 
animal production and slaughter information.  The main aim is to 
synthesise existing knowledge derived from studies across Europe and 
world wide to develop a novel model with demands.  In close 
collaboration with the project partners (INRA, SAC and Danish Meat 
Research Institute), the PhD students will carry out a literature 
review, develop a meta-data base and perform a quantitative 
meta-analysis in order to build a model that describes the relationships
between animal, production and slaughter aspects and technological and 
sensory pork quality.  The model is expected to have far-reaching 
effects both on meat science and on the meat industry, leading to new 
insights and new scientific itineraries. Meta-analysis is principally 
based on classical statistical procedures (ANOVA/ANCOVA regression 
analysis), but with added complexity due to the multi-experimental approach.

Applicants should have a background either in statistics with an 
interest in animal science or in animal science with a sound knowledge 
in statistics. Some knowledge of data bases and the software R would be 
welcome.

The SAC and INRA students are expected to collaborate closely throughout 
the project.  This will be facilitated by enabling the INRA student to
spend some time at SAC.

The successful candidates will join internationally highly rated multi 
disciplinary research teams of INRA and SAC, respectively.  Both teams 
have a broad experience in meat sciences and modelling at both national 
and international levels.


The studentships last for 3 years. Gross starting salary will be €18370 
(INRA) and £12,600 (SAC) respectively.  Only EU citizens can be 
considered for these studentships.

Applications:
INRA position: Letter describing background along with a current CV and 
contact details for two referees should be emailed to DR. Catherine 
Larzul ([log in to unmask]). Please quote reference 52140024

SAC position: Application packs are available from Human Resources, 
Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG.  Tel: 
(0131)535 4343 (answering machine), Fax: (0131) 535 4322, 
[log in to unmask] or our website http://www.sac.ac.uk Please 
quote reference R&D/SLS/270/07.  Closing date: 25/05/07.

Further scientific information can also be obtained via email 
(INRA:[log in to unmask], SAC:[log in to unmask] and the 
Q-Porkchains project website http://www.q-porkchains.org/)