Licentiate position – Virtual fences for cattle

SustAinimal
SustAinimal (http://www.

sustainimal.se) is a research center comprising academia, research institutes and stakeholders from the whole food production value chain in Sweden that with a transdisciplinary approach will increase our knowledge on the role of livestock in future food production. SustAinimal takes account of environmental, social and economic aspects and follows the cutting-edge in research. SustAinimal postulates that change, development, and innovation are necessary to accomplish the required change in society for a competitive agriculture and a future food production that is both resilient and sustainable. Our goal is to provide society with the opportunity to make informed, conscious and independent decisions to produce and consume responsibly.

In SustAinimal, a total of five PhD students will be funded. All PhD students in SustAinimal are expected to actively participate in ‘SustAinimal Academy’. SustAinimal Academy is a meeting platform for young researchers in SustAinimal with its own Summer School, courses and other activities. 

About the role
This licentiate project aims to develop knowledge about how cattle learn to use virtual fences. A virtual fence is as an alternative to traditional fence and can be used for a more flexible grazing area for mainly sheep, goats and cattle. They operate via GPS technology and provide an audio signal and an electrical pulse stimulus via a neckband device. The devise is set up to first give the animals’ a signal cues if they move to close to the virtual boarder, if they continue moving forward they receive a low electrical pulse You will investigate how learning curves varies between animals and which training method results in the fastest adaptation to a virtual fence, as well as how the animals' stress level is affected by the virtual fence. The results will be delivered to the Swedish Board of Agriculture at the end of the project to contribute the knowledge they require to approve the technology for virtual fences in Sweden. This position is for a two-year licentiate with the possibility for extension to a full PhD.

The location is at RISE in Lund or Uppsala.

Who are you?
The ideal candidate for this position should have a master’s degree in animal sciences or equivalent. To be eligible to get the position, a university degree of at least 240 higher education credits is required. Experience of working with cattle is a merit. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities, such as the ability to lead projects, the ability to communicate and work independently as well as in groups, accuracy and the ability to work with several different tasks at the same time. Requirements are driver license and excellent spoken and written English.

Are we right for each other?
We can't promise you an easy job, but what we will promise you is exciting opportunities, a dedicated team and some truly engaging societal challenges to tackle. You will get to work in a dynamic environment offering professional and personal development opportunities. At RISE, we want you to succeed and feel good, because together with your colleagues, you contribute to a sustainable future and to securing a leading position for Swedish industry and research globally. RISE can give you the chance to make a real difference. Welcome to Sweden’s Research Institute and Innovation Partner.

Application
A person has basic eligibility for third cycle education if he or she has taken a second cycle qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second cycle education. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.

Selection among applicants meeting the requirements is made with reference to written application including curriculum vitae, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, one copy of the dissertation for masters or undergraduate degree, a list of at least two references familiar with the applicant's qualifications, certified knowledge of the English language and an interview.

Please observe that applicant/s chosen to participate in an interview shall hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or university college) and transcripts in connection to the interview. If the applicant is a foreign citizen we require a certified copy of the page in your passport with your personal data and photography.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at http://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Want to know more?
Welcome to contact Per Nielsen, Senior Research, 010-516-6929. The deadline for applications is May 13th, 2021. Interviews will take place on an ongoing basis during the application period.

Our union representatives are: Lazaros Tsantaridis, SACO, 010-516 62 21 and Linda Ikatti, Unionen, 010-516 51 61.

We kindly ask external recruitment companies and salespeople not to contact us as we are governed by the Swedish Procurement Act.