PhD fellowship in Innovative Data-driven Solutions for Sustainable Cattle Farming

We are offering a PhD fellowship in data-driven solutions for sustainable cattle farming commencing 1 January 2025 or after agreement.

Our group and research

The Herd Management group currently consists of 7 people and is expanding. We are a group of researchers conducting applied animal science and veterinary research to benefit production animals, their owners, veterinarians and advisors, and public health. The areas of expertise within the Herd Management group are health and production management of cattle as well as multivariate and multilevel monitoring of time series data relating to production animals. These data can be collected with sensors or via other means. Furthermore, the group is focused on advanced post-processing of the monitored data for early warning and detection of specific events related to production animals. The research is carried out in close collaboration with other research groups in Denmark and various groups abroad. Based on our research, we offer research-based teaching and scientific advice.

Project description

The purpose of this PhD project is to contribute to the development of algorithms and models for monitoring the performance and animal health in cattle farms using sensor technologies, both on the individual animal and herd level. Sensor data in cattle herds is largely used for the detection of disease or specific behaviours of individual animals. However, there is a huge potential in using sensor data also for the monitoring and consecutive prevention of unwanted events on the herd level. This project will therefore explore the use of sensor technologies as supporting tools for optimal herd level management of cattle. The specific focus areas will be calf rearing (incl. feeding strategies) as well as optimized feeding management of adult dairy cows. The developed methods will contribute to a more sustainable cattle production through improved disease prevention and management. We aim to achieve results that improve cow and calf health and welfare, including husbandry and feeding aspects. The PhD fellow will be expected to organize and perform herd visits on cattle farms for data collection (e.g. health indicators and feeding management). Furthermore, the PhD fellows tasks will include data analysis and the development of algorithms and models. It is expected that the PhD student will actively contribute to the refinement of project objectives and methods.

Principal supervisor is Luiz Gustavo Ribeiro Pereira, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 35 33 31 28.

A co-supervisor and daily advisor is Svenja Woudstra, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. E-mail: [email protected], Direct Phone: +45 35332405.

Start: 1 January 2025

Duration: 3 years as a PhD student

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.

• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Master of Animal Science, or Veterinary Science. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).

Other important criteria are:

• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Previous publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other professional activities
• A curious mindset with a strong interest in Practical Field Work, Sustainability Data Science, Animal Health
• Language skills

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. Furthermore, the Herd Management Group is a frontrunner in precision livestock farming (PLF).

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is 1 January 2025 or after agreement.

The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,700 DKK/Roughly 4,100 EUR (April 2024 level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

3. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline: Monday 16 September 2024, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 42 and 43.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.