Biosciences (Aquaculture): Fully Funded KESS II MSc by Research Scholarship: Using novel machine-vision and deep-learning to monitor fish welfare in Aquaculture
\This scholarships is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for East Wales.\**
Start date: April 2022
This project will use novel machine vision and deep-learning techniques developed by the commercial sponsor (VisiFish) to monitor the welfare of farmed fish, building on the development of Operational Welfare Indicators (OWIs) by Swansea University-CSAR. VisiFish is a UK-based company working on machine vision telematics and AI tools that can be used to monitor swimming activity, feeding behaviour, and fish size, as well as individual and population-based behaviours, useful for animal health and welfare assessment. The project will provide novel insights into the behaviour and welfare of multi-species aquaculture, and will focus on two multi-disciplinary areas:
1\. Baseline testing of multi-species interactions under commercially relevant conditions
2\. Development and testing of machine vision and deep-learning tools for the early detection of abnormal behaviours, before fish health or welfare are compromised.
Life Science & Health Scholarships are collaborative awards with external partners including SMEs and micro companies, as well as public and third sector organisations. The scholarship provides 1 year funding with a 3 month period to complete the thesis. The achievement of a postgraduate skills development award, PSDA, is compulsory for each KESS II scholar and is based on a 40 credit award.
Established in 1920, Swansea University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of Swansea (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Wales. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, Swansea University is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Swansea University offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 99 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.