The Vetmeduni works to ensure animal health in Austria through teaching, research and the services it offers. We see this task as a contribution to keeping people and their animal companions healthy and to the production of healthy food. To fulfil this task our Unit of Comparative Cognition Research / Messerli Research Institute is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher Classification: B1 Post Doc Level of employment: 40 hours per week Duration of employment: 4 years Application deadline: 4th of March 2023 Code: 2023/0044 The Unit of Comparative Cognition invites applications for the position of an established canine cognition researcher. The underlying mechanisms, functions, evolutionary history and problem-solving competence of certain animal cognitive abilities will be investigated at the unit. The knowledge gained should also be of practical and ethical relevance and lead to a better understanding of the human-dog relationship. The applicant should have several years of experience in canine cognition testing. We are looking for researchers with sufficient knowledge and skills to conduct meticulously planned and tightly controlled behavioural tests with dogs, using the latest analytical methods (3D video analysis, machine learning, eye-tracking) and evaluating them with state-of-the-art statistics. Tasks • Carrying out strictly controlled cognitive and behavioural tests (including 3D video analysis, machine learning, eye tracking) with dogs • Cooperation with researchers from other disciplines, especially neuroscience, psychology, genetics, ethics and veterinary medicine • Collaboration in teaching (especially the research master's programme in humananimal relationships) • Offer courses on the topic of mechanisms of decision-making, animal thinking, modern research methods (experimental design, data processing and visualisation) • Supervision of students (Master and PhD) Required education, qualifications and knowledge • Doctorate or PhD in biology, psychology or veterinary medicine • several years of post-doctoral experience at a university or other research institution • excellent publication record • very good command of written and spoken English (C1) • excellent skills in experimental design and statistics • experience in the acquisition/implementation of third-party funded projects • experience in establishing and leading a research group • experience with university teaching (including student supervision) Further desired qualifications and competences • Programming skills are desired • desire to teach and mentor students and nurture their talents • good cooperation and communication skills • average knowledge of written and spoken German (B1) (or willingness to acquire sufficient German language skills within 3 years and to be involved in university committees) What we offer • Excellent facilities, including Clever Dog Lab, Wolf Science Center • Top university: Vetmeduni is one of Europe's leading veterinary academic education and research institutions • Stable employer • Attractive campus • Personal and professional training and development opportunities • Preventive and medical health promotion • Diversity and family-friendly university culture • Childcare and holiday care options • Numerous attractive fringe benefits • Employee events Minimum salary The collective agreement minimum salary for employees at universities according to the above classification is EUR 4,351.90 gross per month. This minimum salary may be increased by creditable periods of prior service and other salary and remuneration components. Application • letter of application (including preferred and earliest possible start date), in which you explicitly refer to the required as well as desired points, together with a statement of personal motivation • academic CV (including a list of publications, a list of courses and supervised students, a list of lectures) • brief description of current research interests • research plan for the next 4 years, including two studies in detail (with research question, hypotheses, method, expected results, knowledge gain) • Copies of relevant certificates • Contact details of persons who can provide a letter of reference (letters of reference are not required at this stage) We look forward to receiving your application with the reference number 2023/0044, which you should preferably send by e-mail to bewerbungen@vetmeduni.ac.at or by post to the Human Resources Department of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna. Please be sure to quote the reference number, otherwise we will not be able to correctly allocate your application. The Vetmeduni aims to increase the proportion of women, especially in management positions, as well as to achieve a balanced ratio between the number of women and men working at the university in accordance with § 41 University Act 2002, especially among scientific staff, and therefore expressly invites qualified women to apply. In the case of under-representation of women (less than 50%), applicants who are equally suitable as the best-suited co-applicant will be given priority, unless reasons relating to the person of a co-applicant prevail. Applications are free of charge. Applicants are not entitled to compensation for travel and accommodation expenses incurred in connection with the admission procedure. The Vetmeduni is a proud holder of the "universityandfamily" certificate, so we welcome applications from people with family competence. We also welcome applications from people with disabilities. Contact for further information Univ.-Prof. Ludwig Huber ludwig.huber@vetmeduni.ac.at www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/messerli