Assistant/Associate Professor in Swine Welfare
Applications are invited for a tenure track faculty position as an Ethologist with a focus on swine at the University of Saskatchewan. The position will have an academic home and tenure track faculty appointment at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and simultaneously hold the position of Research Scientist at Prairie Swine Centre. At Prairie Swine Centre, behaviour and welfare have been core areas of study since inception of the Centre (1992), and it is the only institution in Canada with a full-time ethologist focusing on pigs. The pork industry considers this unique position as fundamental to the growth and ongoing evolution of the science of pork production, with pork producers and packers/processors from across Canada providing significant financial support for the National Chair in Swine Welfare.
The successful candidate will be expected to apply for a NSERC industrial chair position funded through industry and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. The Chair candidate will be a recognized scientist with a PhD in the field of applied ethology or other related discipline, with special interest in swine welfare, behaviour and production. Demonstrated multi-disciplinary experience in swine health, nutrition, housing and management will be considered an asset. At least 3 years of experience with swine production practices and research experience with swine will be essential for successful candidates. Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong communication skills, interpersonal and leadership skills, and an ability to engage with the swine industry and the public. This is a research intensive Chair with a focus on an applied approach, developing solutions to industry challenges. The candidate should share a passion for improving the lives of both pigs and the people handling the livestock on Canada’s pork farms, in transit and in lairage through slaughter. Teaching obligations will be limited during the first 5-years of the appointment with responsibility for development of graduate students a priority. The Chair will coteach an undergraduate course in their field of expertise and lead graduate level courses as may be required and therefore strong teaching skills will be considered as essential for this position. The program will interact with others in the department, at Prairie Swine Centre and across campus to coordinate a strong multi-species approach to animal welfare. This Chair position is a reflection of the University to continue to enhance its strength in agriculture, veterinary medicine and related disciplines that further the wellbeing and important economic contribution livestock bring to Canadian farms and throughout the pork value chain.
Description:
The Chair will develop and lead an internationally recognized research program in pig welfare. The research program will identify and find solutions to issues of animal welfare that will be important to the pig industry in both the long and short (5 yr) term. The successful candidate will recruit a research team including research associates, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and technical support to produce a multi-disciplinary approach to pig welfare issues. The program is expected to demonstrate national leadership and collaboration with other research groups at various universities and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada stations.
The program will attract industry funding from the entire value chain and leverage this with appropriate government agency research support. In addition, the program will access tri-council funding through its own applications and in collaboration with other research groups locally, nationally and internationally. To assist with priorities and stakeholder involvement an Advisory Committee will be established with membership from the various funding and supporting organizations participating.
The program will attract industry funding from the entire value chain and leverage this with appropriate government agency research support. In addition, the program will access tri-council funding through its own applications and in collaboration with other research groups locally, nationally and internationally. To assist with priorities and stakeholder involvement an Advisory Committee will be established with membership from the various funding and supporting organizations participating.
Access to modern swine production and research facilities at Prairie Swine Centre make it possible for the research to emulate modern production scale. The new research program will benefit from 23 years of research conducted by Prairie Swine Centre on commercial farms across North America. The National Chair in Swine Welfare will develop a rapport with industry, becoming a capable spokesperson to the general public on the subject of swine welfare.
Interested candidates should send a current CV, letter of introduction, contact information for three referees, and a summary of future research plans in confidence to: Dr. John Campbell, Dept. Head, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Western College of Veterinary Medicine; 52 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N5B4, Email: john.campbell@usask.ca; Phone: 306-966-7158.
Applications are currently open and will be reviewed beginning July 1, 2015.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Saskatchewan is committed to Employment Equity. Members of designated groups (women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and visible minorities) are encouraged to apply.
Further information about the NSERC programs can be found at http://www.nserccrsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/CFS-PCP/IRC-PCI_eng.asp, further information about Prairie Swine Centre can be found at www.prairieswine.com, and WCVM http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/.