QGG Aarhus University seeks two Postdoctoral researchers in Quantitative Genetics of sustainable cattle breeding

The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) has a leading position in research related to breeding for climate related traits like methane emissions and feed efficiency in cattle.  This is enabled by an ambitious farm based infrastructure with large scale measurement of methane emissions and feed intake on individual cows, as well as collaborations with industry and international researchers. The successful candidates for these positions will join our team for further advances in this area and either focus on defining a climate breeding objective or developing a climate index. The work on climate breeding goal includes calculating weights on traits related to climate impact and estimating their impact on genetic gain, whereas the work on climate index involves phenotype definition, integrating novel genetically related traits using digital tools or functional genomic information or OMICS to improve genomic prediction models. The successful candidates will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners, teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, and supervise Master's, and PhD students. Candidates will become part of  a collaborative work environment within and outside QGG that integrates novel innovative research programs towards the green transition in animal agriculture. The position is for 2 years of employment, and there are possibilities for extension to a maximum of 4 years if funding is secured. If your research profile does not completely match the descriptions above but you have a theoretical background and are interested in developing one of the research areas mentioned, QGG would like to hear your motivation for seeking this position.

The position offers you

• Contribute to ongoing projects in the area of feed efficiency and methane
• Advance feed efficiency and methane phenotype definitions and the genetic modeling such traits
• Develop methods to define climate breeding objectives
• Participate in project applications
• Collaborate with diverse group of researchers nationally and internationally
• Engage with commercial breeding organizations and other stakeholders
• Publish high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences
• Teach, and (co-)supervise BSc, MSc and PhD students – though teaching duties may be low

The ideal candidate

• Holds a PhD with a strong background in quantitative genetics and/or animal breeding
• Has published high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience with one or more scripting language (e.g., R, Python, SAS) and/or genetic software (e.g., DMU, ASReml)
• Can biologically interpret results and relate to breeding decision making
• Exhibits excellent teamwork skills and has experience collaborating with scientists across different disciplines nationally and internationally
• Possesses effective communication skills and can communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, whether in academia, industry, or society.
• Shows interest in teaching and supervision of BSc, MSc and PhD-students

Who we are

The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG) is a vibrant and exciting interdisciplinary center for research and education in quantitative genetics and quantitative genomics (http://www.qgg.au.dk/en). QGG is an international organization with 70 employees and visiting researchers from more than 20 countries. We perform basic and applied research within plant, livestock and human quantitative genetics. Our focus areas include quantitative genetics, breeding plans, artificial intelligence applied to agriculture and precision medicine, population genetics, and integrative genomics. QGG is located at the central campus in Aarhus and at the AU Flakkebjerg campus in newly renovated offices with well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, and highperforming computing clusters.

Place of work

The place of work is C.F. Møllers Allé 3, Bldg. 1130, 8000 Aarhus C. The area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact information

For further information please contact Center leader and professor: Mogens Sandø Lund, email: mogens.lund@qgg.au.dk, telephone:  +45 20751222, or PostDoc Rasmus Bak Stephansen, e-mail: rasmus.stephansen@qgg.au.dk, mobile: +45 61764959.
 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/