Applications are invited for a PhD position at the University of Aarhus, Science and Technology, Department of Animal Science. The position is available for three years beginning in the first quarter of 2012.
The PhD project focuses on development and validation of methods to measure learning capacity in horses, and on the extent to which fearfulness and HPA-axis output interfere with learning. The ability of horses to learn and remember new tasks is fundamentally important for its use by humans. Fearfulness may, however, interfere with learning, because stimuli in the environment can overshadow signals from the rider or handler. In addition, prolonged high levels of stress hormones can affect neurons within the hippocampus; a brain region central to learning and memory. Previous studies have investigated learning capacity and consistency of learning performance in horses, but there are large discrepancies between studies, suggesting that other aspects, such as fearfulness and motivation, may govern success or failure in learning tests. The PhD project includes measurements of learning capacity, fearfulness and stress reactivity in horses used for different disciplines, including high-level competition horses, aiming to investigate the link between these traits and performance.
Qualifications and specific competences
Successful applicants must have a master’s degree in biology, animal or veterinary sciences and education within the field of animal behavior. Experience with horses is an advantage.
Place of Employment and Place of Work
The place of employment is Aarhus University, Science and Technology, and the place of work is mainly the Department of Animal Science, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele.
Salary and Terms of Employment
Salary and terms of employment are according to current agreement for state-employed academics and government circular from the Ministry of Finance regarding PhD students as well as the appointment structure of 2007 for scientific personnel at universities.
Starting date
First quarter of 2012.
For further information please contact main supervisor Dr. Janne Winther Christensen, e-mail JanneWinther.Christensen@agrsci.dk.
Application procedures:
Please apply for this specific project here:
http://science.au.dk/en/studies/phd-studies/for-applicants/current-call/
Choose November 2011 Call with deadline November 1st 2011.
You will be directed to the call, and must choose the field 'Animal Science'
Then you must fill out the information regarding:
Personal information
Academic background
Admission
Financial support (if any)
Study: In the dropdown menu you must choose the project: "Temperamental traits in horses: Links between learning capacity and performance"
Source (how you found out about the call)
Referees (as a minimum 1 must be uploaded)
Application material (pdf only, max 20 MB, no zip): Motivation, CV, Diploma and transcript of records, project description
Please be aware that you cannot save the application and continue working on it later. Therefore, you must have all relevant appendices, attachments, addresses for referees, etc. ready when you apply, as the entire application must be uploaded to the system in one go.
As a minimum you need to upload the application material:
one reference
curriculum vitae,
motivation (max. 1 page)
transcripts and diploma(s) (Please enter your unweighted grade average calculated and based on your transcript’s grading scale, BSc and MSc separately)
project description (½-4 pages)
You cannot submit the application if one or several of these documents have not been uploaded.