Two vacant postdoc positions at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

The Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, calls for applications for two full-time postdoc positions. The two-year positions are planned to start by 1st January 2026, or soon thereafter. It is possible to apply for both positions or to indicate which of the two positions you apply for. The positions will be in the research unit Behaviour, Stress and Welfare (BSW).

Your profile as postdoc for both positions

• We seek a candidate with academic qualifications at PhD level
• You must have strong interpersonal and communication skills in English and demonstrate your ability for scientific communication of research results

Position 1: Postdoc in “Risks related to animal welfare of feed additives”. 

The current focus in research is feeding management to reduce climate impact from dairy cows through use of feed additives, and feed stuffs, that inhibit methane-producing microbes and fermentation. However, the potential animal welfare consequences of methane reducing feeding are under-researched, and there is a need to develop methodology that can compare various methane-reducing additives and feed stuffs for their acceptability to dairy cows and their potential welfare risks in terms of discomfort and pain.
The 2-year postdoc position will cover validation of indicators of discomfort and pain related to use of methane reducing feed additives and feed stuffs, as well as development of sensitive methodology to screen various feed-additives and feed stuffs for their acceptability to dairy cows. 
The topic is animal behaviour and welfare, and we seek a candidate at PhD level with a background in e.g. biology, animal science, veterinary science, or similar, and a candidate with interest in animal behaviour and welfare in relation to initiatives to reduce climate impact of dairy production through feeding management.

Contact

Further information on the position may be obtained from Professor Margit Bak Jensen, phone: +4522365482, email: margitbak.jensen@anivet.au.dk

Position 2: Postdoc in “Animal behaviour and welfare during critical life events”.

During recent years, the number of research initiatives focusing on animal behaviour and welfare during critical life events has increased and it seems to continue. Among these are projects focusing on animal transport and related management but also other critical aspects of the keeping of livestock. The 2-year postdoc position involves participation in interdisciplinary projects, focusing on transport of farm animals and related management.   
For this position, we seek a candidate at PhD level with a background in biology, animal science or veterinary medicine who is interested in animal welfare and how society handles animals when their welfare is threatened.  

Contact

Further information on the position may be obtained from Professor Mette S. Herskin, phone: +4550502969, email: mettes.herskin@anivet.au.dk

What we offer

• A well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment and animal experimental facilities
• An informal and multicultural research environment with high professionalism and close collaboration and networking activities
• A workplace characterized by equality and a good work-life balance, and an open discussion across different fields of research.

The candidate will have the opportunity to be trained and gain experience in:

• Teaching and supervision of students at the BSc and MSc level through active involvement in teaching in animal science and in the veterinary science programme.
• Research-based consultancy to authorities, where it is relevant.                      

Who we are

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences is well-known for its skilled and very innovative interdisciplinary research environments with high international impact. We perform world-class research, which contributes with solutions to solve essential societal challenges within the green transition: food production and veterinary medicine – nationally and globally.

The department generates novel research at the highest international level within sustainable food production, environment, climate, health and welfare for animals and humans. The activities form the basis for the research-based public sector consultancy and degree programs covering bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degree programs within animal science and veterinary medicine. We offer a lively, engaged and innovative learning and study environment, which is closely integrated in the research environment.

Our department has unique and advanced animal experimental research facilities and technologies, situated in close connection to the research environment, and a comprehensive national and international research network and good industrial and professional collaboration.

Please refer to Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (au.dk) for further
information about the department: https://anivet.au.dk/en

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg,
Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, and the area of employment is Aarhus University (AU)
with related departments.
 

Living in Denmark

Please visit the international staff website: https://internationalstaff.au.dk/prearrival/  for information about arriving to and living in Denmark for both the applicants and their potential families.

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/