The Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences calls for applications for a position as assistant professor for 4 years in Animal welfare related to feeding from 1 May or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position will be in the research unit Behaviour, stress and welfare (BSW).

The position

We seek a candidate with a background in biology, animal or veterinary science or a similar field with strong competence in ethology and animal welfare and with at least basic knowledge of feeding.

The position covers research in animal behaviour to understand and recognise welfare effects of feeding management. This includes changes in behaviour indicating negative post-ingestive feedback (e.g. malaise) and signs of negative affective states (e.g. discomfort, pain, hunger), as well as changes in behaviour indicating positive post-ingestive feedback (e.g. satiation) and positive affective states (e.g. pleasure and content).

The research will develop methods and behavioural tests to assess post-ingestive feedback, as well as tests to quantify preference or avoidance of feedstuffs.

Your profile as assistant professor

Qualifications for the assistant professor level at Aarhus University must include postdoctoral training or similar with a relevant research profile and a strong scientific publication record within the area of the positions as described above. This includes that you have:

• Academic qualifications at PhD level in animal science, veterinary science or biology.
• Demonstrated the ability to conduct independent research.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• For non-Scandinavian candidates, an effort to learn to read, write and speak Danish is a requirement.
• Significant skills in analysis of experimental data and scientific communication of research results.

The candidate will in addition have to

• Participate in attracting external funding and do project management.
• Take responsibility for teaching and supervision of students at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels in animal science and veterinary science.
• Provide research-based consultancy to authorities where it is relevant.

What we offer

• A well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared
  equipment and animal-experimental facilities
• An informal and multicultural research environment with high professionalism and close collaboration and networking activities
• A workplace characterized by equality and a good work-life balance, and an open discussion across different fields of research.

Who we are

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences is well-known for its skilled and very innovative interdisciplinary research environments with high international impact. We perform world-class research, which contributes with solutions to solve essential societal challenges within the green transition: food production and veterinary medicine – nationally and globally.

The department generates novel research at the highest international level within sustainable food production, environment, climate, and health and welfare for animals and humans. The activities form the basis for the research-based public sector consultancy and degree programs covering bachelor, master and PhD degree programs within animal science and veterinary medicine.  We offer a lively, engaged and innovative learning and study environment, which is closely integrated in the research environment.

ANIVET has unique and advanced animal experimental research facilities and technologies, situated in close connection to the research environment, and a comprehensive national and international research network and good industrial and professional collaboration.

Please refer to Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences for further
information about the department; https://anivet.au.dk/en

Contact

Further information on the position in the research unit BSW may be obtained from Head of Research Unit Lene Juul Pedersen, phone: +45 5116 2822, email: lene.juulpedersen@anivet.au.dk

Living in Denmark

Please visit the international staff website: https://internationalstaff.au.dk/prearrival/  for
information about arriving to and living in Denmark for both the applicants and their
potential family.

Place of employment and place of work

The place of work is the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg,
Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, and the area of employment is Aarhus University (AU)
with related departments.
 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.