Dr. Maja Makagon’s Lab
Department of Animal Sciences
Purdue University
Starting date and funding: The position is available starting fall semester 2014, although students able to start in the spring semester of 2015 will also be considered. Funding is available for 3 years.
Research focus: The student will obtain expertise in the area of applied animal behavior and animal welfare, and will develop and conduct research projects pertaining to laying hen housing and management strategies, and/or the assessment of welfare of hens housed in alternative housing systems (ex. furnished cages or aviaries).
The successful candidate will be involved in the development of data collection protocols, data collection, analysis and interpretation, distribution of research finding through publication and presentation of research at industry, national and/or international meetings. Additional opportunities for professional development will depend on the student’s interests, but may include teaching and research extension experience, grant writing, working on interdisciplinary projects with national and international collaborators, and involvement in leadership opportunities in the department, college or university.
Preferred qualifications: Although a master’s degree is not obligatory, preference will be given to candidates who have completed a master’s degree in a related area, or those with a strong background in animal behavior research. Additional preferred skills include strong written and oral communication abilities, experience with scientific research techniques, a thorough understanding of scientific methodology, and experience handling animals. The candidate should enjoy working in a dynamic research environment and be able to work independently (with minimal supervision) and as part of an interdisciplinary group.
A successful candidate must meet all of the requirements outlined by the Graduate School and the Dept. of Animal Sciences at Purdue University. Admission requirements, and additional information about the graduate program in Animal Sciences at Purdue University can be found here: https://ag.purdue.edu/ansc/Pages/ProspectiveGrad.aspx
Funding: The PhD Assistantship will provide 3 years of funding, which includes a salary/stipend, tuition, medical insurance, and most fees. In order to receive funding the successful candidate must be enrolled as a full time student, and maintain satisfactory academic and scholarly performance and progress, satisfactory work performance, and follow all Animal Sciences graduate student guidelines.
Interested? Interested candidates should send an email that includes a statement of interest and current CV to Dr. Maja Makagon (mmakagon@purdue.edu). Please do not submit an application for this position to the Graduate School prior to contacting Dr. Makagon.