Postdoctoral position in honeybee welfare and protection

Department of Ecology
 
The position will be placed within the honeybee research group at the Department of Ecology. Our research group’s main focus is on insect pathology and disease transmission concerning honeybee health, but we also do research on bumblebees and wild bees. We study how pathogens and parasites interact with their host and how these interactions are influenced by environmental factors, pesticides and even beekeeping techniques to try to identify sustainable solutions to mitigate disease. Here, the successful candidate will be offered a stimulating context with colleagues who focus on various aspects of bee health and have an internationally extensive collaborative network.

The postdoc candidate will also have a close working collaboration with colleagues in ethics, ethology and animal welfare research at the Department of Animal Environment and Health to stimulate the welfare perspective of this project.  

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

About the position
Given the increasing interest in keeping honeybees, the practices employed in apiculture and how they impact the physiological and behavioural wellbeing of honeybees need comprehensive evaluation to ensure the protection of honeybees and improve the competitiveness and sustainability of beekeeping. This project aims to define and improve honeybee welfare by assessing the full extent of honeybee ethical and welfare issues and stakeholder attitudes and values to these concepts, and by quantifying welfare parameters under different types of management to establish a baseline for honeybee welfare assessment, while comparing management approaches from a welfare perspective. The position holder will be responsible for compiling a literature review, for collection of samples, contacts with labs and stakeholders, perform mapping of management practices and analyse the results as well as for developing a relevant score sheet for assessing welfare, and analysing the results.

Your profile
You should hold a doctoral degree in biology, zoology, ecology, animal science or veterinary medicine and have a research focus in animal and/or insect welfare, or insect pathology. Prior experience working with honeybees is a merit, as well as studies in ethics or philosophy. You have the ability to work independently and take a leading role in driving a research programme while also working with a team and strengthening collaborations. You have contributed to research through publications in peer reviewed international journals, you have excellent English language skills (both oral and written), and you are highly motivated. You should also have a deep interest in pursuing academic research in the forefront of this research area, combining insect health and animal welfare.

As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is at most three years old. We also place great emphasis on personal qualities of a suitable candidate for this position.

Location:
Uppsala.

Form of employment:
Temporary employment 24 months, with possibility of extension.

Scope:
100% or according to agreements.

Start date:
As soon as possible, according to agreements.

Application:
Please submit your application before deadline 25 February 2024. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.