College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Division for Translational Research and Engagement
Southern Research and Outreach Center- Waseca
Essential Qualifications Employee Must Have: Minimum Requirements: a Doctoral degree in animal welfare as well as a further interest in animal behavior and /or ethical issues relating to animal welfare. The successful applicant will have demonstrated enthusiasm for animal welfare research and will primarily assist in USDA-AFRI-NIFA Projects and other assigned duties.
Preferred Qualifications: PhD in swine welfare or animal behavior. Successful candidates will have good interpersonal skills. Previous experience and knowledge in Animal Behavior will be an asset.
Selection Criteria/Preferred Employee Qualifications (Education/Training/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities): A comprehensive knowledge of and research experience in, different swine production systems will be an asset. Successful candidates should have demonstrated research ability and publications, oral and written communication skills, laboratory procedures in animal welfare studies including supervision of professional and non-professional personnel, and computer and internet skills. Candidates with experience in grant writing and conducting externally funded projects will be an asset. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Briefly Describe Major Job Functions and Indicate Percentages of Time for this Position: A fixed term 3 year full-time position at the Post-doctoral fellow level is being offered at the University of Minnesota – Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca, MN.
The Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN is located 75 miles southeast of St. Paul, MN. The facility consists of an 800 sow farrow – wean unit, 320 unit nursery, 640 unit wean to finish building and a metabolic facility with a surgery room and 36 metabolism accommodation units.
The duties and areas of responsibility in this position include research coordination and management (85%) and public relations, outreach and education (15%). The research coordination and management includes research activities for a program in nutrition and welfare interactions using the pig as a model for physiological, endocrinological, immunological and studies. Research activities include evaluation of: (1) liquid feeding systems for wean to finish pigs, (2) minimizing hunger in group-housed gestating sows through modification of the feeding regime; and (3) projects exploring the interaction between nutrition, housing, welfare and productivity of sows. There are collaborative research activities with the Departments of Animal Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Soil, Water and Climate, Veterinary Population Medicine, Surgery, and Bio-products /Biosystems Engineering.
Candidates should have experience and training in animal welfare and animal behavior.
Send applications with CV and names of 3 references to Sam K. Baidoo, PhD, Associate Professor (Swine Nutrition and Management), Southern Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, 35838-120th ST, Waseca, MN. Fax: (507) 835-3622;
Email: skbaidoo@umn.edu