1 PhD student in the research education subject: Animal science, animal hygiene

Development of image analysis as a tool to monitor animal welfare in modern animal husbandry 

The PhD student will conduct research by using image analysis technology to identify risk factors for animal health, especially locomotion disorders, in today’s and tomorrow´s animal housing systems. This will be accomplished by continuous monitoring of animal movements, positions and interactions by using image analysis and validation with traditional behavioral studies and to correlate the results with animal health data. The PhD student will in collaboration with researchers in the team produce a platform for the development of algorithms that links abnormalities of behavior with early signs of injury or disease. The work will be conducted at SLU Alnarp in close collaboration with the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University. The image analysis technology will be tested practically in herds for animal production.

Qualifications

Experience of working with ethology, animal health, animal production technology and management systems, in particular dairy production, and management of large amounts of data in research projects is meritorious. Good ability to express themselves in speech and writing in English is a requirement. Good ability to express themselves in speech and writing in Swedish is meritorious. A driving license is a necessity because some field work is included. Emphasis will be put on the applicant’s potential, analytical skills, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in teams.

Forms for funding or employment 

Employment as PhD student 4 years

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SLU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

A person has basic eligibility for third level education if he or she has taken a second level qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second level.

Those who met the requirements for general eligibility before July 1st, 2007, i.e. had completed a programme of higher education for at least 180 Higher education credits or the equivalent, will continue to do so until the end of 2015." 

Selection among applicants meeting the requirements is made with reference to written application including curriculum vitae, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, one copy of the dissertation for masters or undergraduate degree, a list of at least two references familiar with the applicant's qualifications, certified knowledge of the English language and an interview. 

Read more about the PhD education in the Handbook for postgraduate students 

Read about the PhD education at SLU atwww.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/ 

Use this APPLICATION FORM 

Further information: Associate professor Anders Herlin +46 - (0)40 - 415219; anders .herlin@slu.se; Professor Christer Bergsten +46 - (0)40 - 415475; christer.bergsten@slu.se 

Academic union representatives

SACO Andrus Kangro +46 (0)40 415 479

SEKO Desiree Karlsson +46 (0)18 67 10 57

ST Jörgen Olsson +46 (0)40 415 431

Applications, marked with ref no SLU ua 5656/2013, must have arrived at the Registrar of SLU, P.O. Box 7070, S- 750 07 Uppsala or registrator@slu.se no later than 2014-01-10.

FACULTY POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Assistant Professor of Applied Animal Behavior

 1. Position Description

 The University of California at Davis is pleased to announce recruitment for a tenure-track faculty position in Applied Animal Behavior. The successful candidate will join the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the rank of Assistant Professor. Criteria for appointment include: a Ph.D. or equivalent in animal behavior or a closely related field, a strong interest in animal behavior of domestic animals relevant to animal agriculture, a record of excellence in scholarly research, and demonstrable potential to establish a competitively-funded research program relevant to animal behavior. The appointee will be responsible for teaching undergraduate courses in animal ethics and animal welfare, be actively involved in undergraduate advising, curricular development and department and university service. The appointee is also expected to guide and mentor graduate students and participate in research and outreach programs consistent with the mission of the CA Agricultural Experiment Station.

 The Davis campus of the University of California maintains state-the-art research facilities and provides ready access to a diverse array of poultry and livestock, including inbred research lines.  The collegial nature of the faculty encourages and supports collaborative interactions that may cross departmental and/or college boundaries. The department resides within an internationally renowned land-grant institution dedicated to supporting California’s diverse multi-billion dollar animal industries. The position is a nine-month tenure track appointment. The community of Davis sits amid the fertile orchards, fields and vineyards of the Sacramento valley.  Residents of Davis enjoy a high quality of life in a University town setting, situated between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Napa Valley/San Francisco Bay area.

 Applicants should submit materials via the following website:

https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF00204/

Additional inquiries can be directed to Professor J.A. Mench, Recruitment Advisory Committee Chair, Department of Animal Science, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA  95616, telephone (530) 752-7125, jamench@ucdavis.edu . The position will remain open until filled but to ensure consideration, applications should be received by March 15, 2014.

UC Davis is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer and is dedicated to recruiting a diverse faculty community.  We welcome all qualified applicants to apply, including women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

URGENT : Étude des interactions entre rats introduits, flore et espèces frugivores natives d’une forêt tropicale humide d’altitude, Nouvelle Calédonie

Structure d’accueil

Le(a) stagiaire sera accueilli(e) au sein de l’unité de recherche IMBE 237, implantée au centre IRD de Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie et spécialisée dans le domaine des espèces animales invasives et la biologie de la conservation des milieux insulaires du Pacifique Sud.

Responsable : Eric Vidal (eric.vidal@ird.fr)

Voir : http://www.imbe.fr

http://nouvelle-caledonie.ird.fr/

Contexte du stage

Le stage proposé s’inscrit au sein d’un programme expérimental de contrôle des prédateurs introduits (chats et rats) en forêt dense humide (Mont Panié, Nouvelle Calédonie) ; le projet REFCOR (Réponse des Ecosystèmes Forestiers au Contrôle des prédateurs introduits) et sera rattaché à une thèse portant sur la « Caractérisation des interactions entre les rongeurs introduits et la biodiversité des forêts tropicales humides ».

La compréhension des interactions (prédation, compétition…) entre les rats introduits et la biodiversité native est indispensable à l’évaluation de ce programme et passe notamment par l’étude du régime alimentaire des rats. Dans les forêts humide d’altitude de Nouvelle Calédonie, deux espèces de rats, Rattus rattus et Rattus exulans sont présentes. En milieu forestier, bien qu’ils se nourrissent aussi d’invertébrés et de petits vertébrés (e.g. lézards, œufs d’oiseaux), les rats basent majoritairement leur alimentation sur la consommation de plantes (fruits, graines, plantules etc.). De part ce régime, les rats pourraient non seulement influencer le recrutement d’espèces végétales mais pourraient aussi rentrer en compétition avec des oiseaux frugivores notamment le Notou (Ducula goliath) et les roussettes.

Missions du stagiaire

Le principal objectif du stagiaire sera de préciser les interactions entre les rats, les plantes et les vertébrés frugivores présents au sein des forêts humides de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Différentes méthodes d’analyses en laboratoire seront utilisées :

- Participation à l’étude du régime alimentaire des rats via l’analyse de contenus stomacaux et de fèces de rats

- Tests de « cafétéria » : alimentation contrôlée des rats en élevage, roussettes et notous ; récupération d’empreintes de dents et de fèces ; réalisation d’une collection de référence d’empreintes et d’items alimentaires après digestion.

- Etude de la consommation des fruits au sol ou dans les arbres par mise en place d’expérimentations et déploiement d’une série de pièges-photos automatisés.

Ce stade est intégré au sein d’un programme de thèse de doctorat (doctorante en seconde année). Une partie de cette étude et particulièrement la comparaison avec les vertébrés frugivores indigènes sera conduite en collaboration avec l’IAC (Institut Agronomique Calédonien). L’ensemble du projet REFCOR est réalisé en collaboration avec une association locale de gestion environnementale et avec le service environnement de la Province Nord.

Le stagiaire participera également à une/plusieurs missions de terrain en mai-juin-juillet 2014. Sur le terrain, le stagiaire devra participer aux suivis de différentes composantes de la biodiversité (vertébrés, invertébrés, flore), du fonctionnement des écosystèmes forestiers et des caractéristiques des populations d’espèces invasives (rongeurs, chats).

Profil recherché

- Niveau Master 2 Pro en écologie et conservation de la biodiversité avec de bonnes connaissances des techniques d’inventaire de la biodiversité, connaissances et intérêt naturaliste.

- Travail de laboratoire principalement. Patience et rigueur indispensable !

- Travail de terrain « en immersion » ; expérience en milieu isolé si possible. Accès par hélicoptère, logement en tente, douche dans la rivière. Les missions (plusieurs semaines d’affilée) seront réalisées avec 2-3 autres personnes de l’équipe, ainsi qu’avec des guides et collaborateurs locaux. Excellente condition physique absolument indispensable.

- Expérience des milieux tropicaux souhaitée, mais pas indispensable.

- Expérience en manipulation d’animaux et de laboratoire souhaitées, mais pas indispensables.

- Aptitude au travail en équipe et à la vie en collectivité, autonomie, capacité d’adaptation, rigueur & organisation et bonne humeur indispensables.

Conditions du stage

Stage à pourvoir idéalement à partir de février 2014

Durée souhaitée : idéalement 6 à 7 mois.

Stage indemnisé 436,05 euros/mois (+ 40 euros de « per-diem » par journée de terrain)

Billet d’avion depuis la métropole pris en charge par le laboratoire (passeport valable 6 mois après la fin du stage indispensable).

Le logement sur Nouméa n’est pas pris en charge.

Stage basé à l’IRD Nouméa pour le laboratoire. Terrain en Province Nord.

Candidature

Un curriculum vitae détaillé, une lettre de motivation et toutes références utiles (format pdf ; groupés en un seul fichier svp) sont à envoyer au plus tard le 01 janvier 2014, par voie électronique uniquement, à Eric Vidal (eric.vidal@ird.fr) ET Quiterie Duron (quiterie.duron@ird.fr)

Offre stage M1 ou M2

Influence du milieu d’incubation des oeufs sur le comportement adaptatif et la physiologie de juvéniles de seiche Sepia officinalis.

Début du stage : mars ou avril 2014

Durée : 6 mois

Niveau requis : Master 1 Ethologie ou M2 Aquaculture (si date compatible)

Indemnité : 436.05 euros/mois.

Contextes général et scientifique

Le stage proposé s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un projet financé par la région Basse-Normandie qui s’intitule : « Pêcheries de céphalopodes : outils pour gérer la ressource, préserver le recrutement et valoriser la production » et qui regroupe 7 partenaires (l'UNICAEN, le SMEL, le CNAM-Intechmer, l’Ifremer, le CRPMEM, l’OPBN et Granvilmer). 

Les Céphalopodes de Manche (seiches et calmars) sont parmi les ressources les plus importantes de la pêche bas-normande. Ces stocks ne font actuellement pas l'objet d'une évaluation régulière ce qui est nécessaire pour définir les conditions d'une exploitation durable. Parmi les métiers côtiers, la pêche aux casiers, pourtant moins destructrice des habitats que le chalutage, connait le problème des oeufs fixés sur les engins. La meilleure valorisation possible de ces ressources passe enfin par l'optimisation de leur qualité.

L'objectif général de ces études est donc d'améliorer les conditions d'exploitation et de valorisation de la ressource afin d'optimiser et de pérenniser le revenu qu'elles représentent pour les pêcheurs.

Ce projet comporte trois actions complémentaires:

Action 1 : L'étude du devenir des juvéniles issus d'oeufs de seiches fixés aux casiers

Action 2 : L'analyse de la qualité et de la fraîcheur des produits de différents métiers

Action 3 : Le suivi d'indicateurs d'abondance de la ressource et de son exploitation

Le stagiaire interviendra dans l’action 1 qui consiste à comparer le comportement et la physiologie (en lien avec la survie) de juvéniles issus d’oeufs incubés en milieu naturel à des juvéniles issus d’oeufs incubés en milieu contrôlé. En effet, la survie lors des premiers jours est bonne mais les oeufs n’ayant pas poursuivi une incubation dans le milieu naturel produit des juvéniles dont les comportements sont altérés (défense, comportements alimentaires). Des données de la littérature (Pour revue Dickel et al., in press) montrent que la survie à plus long terme des seiches peut être compromise.

Déroulement du stage

Le stagiaire prendra part à une série d’expériences utilisant des techniques comportementales et physiologiques sur les nouveaux-nés. Il s’agira de traits comportementaux adaptatifs (tests de défense, tests de prédation, tests de personnalité) qui seront validés ensuite par des tests physiologiques (e.g. dosage de corticostérone chez les nouveau-nés en présence d’odeurs de prédateur). Les expériences seront réalisées au SMEL (Blainville-Sur-Mer) et/ou Intechmer (Cherbourg) et/ou à la station marine de Luc- sur-Mer. La dernière partie du stage consistera à réaliser les premiers essais de suivi de pré-grossissement en bassin.

Qualités requises

Motivation pour travailler sur des animaux aquatiques, sens des responsabilités, curiosité, autonomie, rigueur, respect du protocole.

Responsable

David Benhaïm

Intechmer/CNAM

BP 324, 50103 Cherbourg, France

Tél : 02 33 88 73 38

Mél : david.benhaim@cnam.fr

Références bibliographiques

Basuyaux O., 2010. Sepia officinalis Influence de la température et de l’hydrodynamisme sur le développement des oeufs. Rapport SMEL/CE-prod/14 : 15 pp.

Darmaillacq AS, Lesimple* C & Dickel L (2008): Embryonic visual learning in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis.

Animal Behaviour. 76(1) 131-134.

Dickel L., Darmaillacq AS., Jozet-Alves C. and Bellanger C.. Learning, memory and brain plasticity in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). In Invertebrate Learning and Memory, Eds R. Menzel and P. Benjamin, Elsevier. (in press)

Dickel L., Darmaillacq* A.S., Poirier* R., Agin V., Bellanger C. and Chichery R. (2006). Behavioral and Neural maturation in the cuttlefish. Life and Environment. 56, 89-95

Guibé M. and Dickel L (2012) Embryonic visual experience in cuttlefish and shelter preference. Life and

Environment 83(6) 243-246

Guibé M., Boal J.G. and Dickel L. (2010). Early exposure to odors changes later visual preferences in cuttlefish. Developmental Psychobiology 52(8): 833-837.

Jozet-Alves C., Viblanc V, Romagny* S, Dacher M., Healy S, and Dickel L (2012). Visual lateralization is taskand age-dependent in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Animal Behaviour83(6) 1313-1318

Poirier R., Chichery R. and Dickel L. (2005). Effect of early experience on maturation of body patterns in

juvenile cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 119(2), 230-237.

Sykes, A. (2007). Hatchery technologies and nutritional contents of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) spawners, eggs, hatchlings and live prey associated. Thesis, Universidade do Algarve, pp.212.

PhD position: The socio-cognitive abilities of pigs under free-range conditions

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria

The Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, is seeking a PhD student to join a project funded by the Messerli Foundation (Switzerland). With this grant the institute is going to strengthen interdisciplinary research in three areas, comparative cognition, comparative medicine and animal ethics. To this end it will set up and commission a pig lab at the highest possible welfare standards at the Haidlhof Research Station, 30 km south of Vienna, Austria, in spring 2014. Only observational, non-invasive studies will be carried out. For ethical and scientific reasons the pigs will be kept in a cutting-edge free-range housing system. 

The PhD project aims to empirically investigate over a three year period certain socio-cognitive abilities of domestic pigs. The student will carry out tests on social intelligence, emotional contagion, imitation, pro-social behaviour, cooperation and the animals’ sense of community, accompanied by standard tests of learning and memory. The student will be supervised by Prof. Ludwig Huber, head of the Unit of Comparative Cognition, who has a long-standing interest in the cognitive abilities of a wide range of animals (from fish, reptiles to birds and mammals), as well as in questions of domestication (especially in the wolf-dog system) and human-animal interactions. He has co-founded the Haidlhof Research Station, together with Prof. Tecumseh Fitch and Prof. Dr. Thomas Bugnyar from the Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna. At this reserach station the successful applicant will be exposed to a vivid, international, collaborative scientific environment, studying cognition and communication in keas, ravens, other corvids, and conducting bioacoustic studies in a wide range of birds and mammals.

As the findings will likely generate questions about the welfare and the moral status of pigs and its relevance for the society, the work will be co-supervised by the Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal Studies (Prof. Herwig Grimm, Dr. Judith Benz-Schwarzburg). Finally, the Unit of Comparative Medicine (Prof. Erika Jensen-Jarolim) will accompany the cognition studies aiming at defining new stress biomarkers from saliva. The cooperation between the three teams highly promotes the interdisciplinary approach of the Messerli Research Institute. The researchers involved in the pig project will be able to conduct cutting-edge research on pig cognition, health and welfare, but they will also deduce, understand and discuss ethical aspects and implications of the project.

Starting date: The position is available from March 2014 (begin of summer term). 

Qualification: Applicants have

• at the point of enrollment a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Veterinary sciences, Agricutltural sciences (with a focus on farm animals) or Biology, preferably with a strong interest in animal behaviour,
• experience with pigs, ideally studied in their thesis
• excellent communication and writing skills in English
• basic knowledge of German
• other helpful competences include statistical proficiency and possession of a driving licence

Conditions of employment

The university offers a salary according to level B1 75% (approx. 1900 Euros gross per month). The position requires residence near the Haidlhof research station (30 km south of Vienna, near Bad Vöslau, Lower Austria) and must result in a PhD thesis within the 3-year contract period. A PhD training program is part of the agreement and the successful candidate will be enrolled in the University of Veterinary Medicine's PhD program. Objective of the temporary 3 years position is a number (3 or more) of research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, together comprising the PhD thesis leading to the granting of the PhD degree at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. After the first year will be an evaluation for feasibility of successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next 2 years.

For further information regarding the position and scientific content of the project please contact the Project Leader, Prof. Ludwig Huber (email: ludwig.huber@vetmeduni.ac.at). 

Application: Written applications in English should include a C.V., summary of educational and work experience, statement describing your scientific interests, copies of any published or in-press papers, and contact information for two references. Applications can be mailed to: Mag. Franziska Luckabauer, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. 

Applications by e-mail only will NOT be considered. 

Application deadline: 12 January 2014. 

The Messerli Research Institute (www.vetmeduni.ac.at/Messerli) has been recently founded with support of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna, the University of Vienna and the Messerli Foundation (Switzerland) for the scientific study of human-animal interactions, with an integrative and highly interdisciplinary approach of comparative cognition and behaviour, comparative medicine, and animal ethics.

The University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna promotes the employment of women in fields of work in which they are underrepresented and therefore encourages qualified women to apply to this opening. Disabled people will be preferentially treated if qualified. 

School of Psychology PhD Studentship available for September 2014 (2014)

Project title: The nature and function of human nonverbal vocalisations: acoustical, psychological and evolutionary perspectives.

Supervisor: Dr David Reby (School of Psychology, University of Sussex)

Most research on human vocal communication has focused on understanding how speech is produced and perceived. In contrast, human nonverbal vocal communication has received relatively little attention. Indeed, despite the fact that humans, like other mammals, produce spontaneous vocalizations (grunts, cries, laughter, moans etc...) in a wide range of contexts, the communicative function of these vocalizations remains poorly understood. In particular, how information is encoded in the acoustic structure of these vocalisations has not been systematically investigated using modern signal processing techniques.

The project will exploit our ability to use source-filter analysis to quantify the acoustic variation of human vocalisations and to correlate this variation with key underlying factors (e.g. sex, size, age, attractiveness, pain, emotional valence and arousal, etc.). We will subsequently use resynthesis techniques to modify the signals for psycho-acoustic experiments testing the communicative function of these vocalisations. Because human nonverbal vocalisations are directly homologous to animal calls, understanding their functional significance and may produce crucial insights into the origins and evolution of speech precursors such as symbolism, vocal learning and vocal control.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr David Reby within the School of Psychology, University of Sussex, where they will be based in the Mammal Vocal Communication & Cognition Research Grouphttp://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/cmvcr/Home.html. The lab provides a rich and vibrant research environment and is equipped with advanced tools and facilities for exploring acoustic communication in animals and humans.

Applications should be made by Friday 17^th January 2014. The award of the studentship will be based on a competitive process. If awarded, it would be a full-time studentship (funded for a duration of three years) covering tuition fee, and a maintenance allowance. The maintenance allowance is currently £13,726 per annum. There is an expectation to contribute to teaching on a paid basis.

Type of award

PhD Studenship available for September 2014

Award amount

The maintenance allowance is currently £13,726 per annum. This award covers fees at the Home/EU rate.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for potential candidates:

• This award will only pay fees at the Home/EU rate. Candidates may not be eligible for the full award if they do not meet UK residency requirements. For full details of eligibility see the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide, Annex 1: Residential guidelines
• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master's degree in Psychology or a related discipline.

Application procedure

Guidance for applicants:

• Please send your initial enquires by email for the attention of 'Postgraduate Coordinator' to: psychology@sussex.ac.uk
• If you wish to discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Dr David Reby: D.Reby@sussex.ac.uk

• Application procedures can be found at:http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying/2014entry

• The proposed source of funding should be specified as 'ESRC or GTA'

Candidates should provide:

• A research statement that briefly outlines our current state of knowledge, hypotheses that could be addressed, and an outline of potential methods. Your answer should not exceed 2 pages including references, be set at minimum 10 font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• A teaching-related statement that addresses the normal expectation that you contribute to teaching of statistics and research methods (up to 300 words).
• A current transcript with full details of performance on all completed courses.

Timetable

Applications should be made by Friday 17^th January 2014.

Further information

Contact details

Please send your initial enquires by email for the attention of 'Postgraduate Coordinator' to: psychology@sussex.ac.uk

If you wish to discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Dr David Reby: D.Reby@sussex.ac.uk