Duration : PhD 3/4 years full-time/MPhil 2 years full-time/MRes 1 year full-time. The research focus of the School's Animal Sciences group is the physiology of reproduction in mammals, particularly in relation to improving or regulating fertility. Work is carried out mostly on domestic species, although occasionally wild populations are studied, and findings are related to human and animal medicine. Studies of the pituitary-ovarian-uterine axis, including oocyte development, folliculogenesis, ovulation, the formation of the corpus luteum, the maternal recognition of pregnancy and early conceptus development are carried out. Specific research areas are: oocyte development; follicle/oocyte interactions; ovarian tissues and biophysics; maternal recognition of pregnancy; social influences; nutritional influences; subfertility in dairy cattle; follicle growth and oocyte production. Normal duration of a PhD is either 36 or 48 months; MPhil is normally 24 months

Career prospects and employability Those who take up a postgraduate research opportunity with us will not only receive support in terms of close contact with supervisors and specific training related to your area of research, you will also benefit from dedicated careers advice from our Careers and Employability Service. Individual guidance appointments, career management training programme, access to resources and invitations to events including skills workshops and recruitment fairs are just some of the ways in which they can help you develop your full potential, whether you choose to continue within an academic setting or are looking at options outside of academia.