Research Assistant

Department of Animal Environment and Health
The Department: The department has about 70 employees, primarily in the city of Skara, which is located in Sweden's most agricultural animal-dense area, as well as in Uppsala and Gothenburg. Agronomists, ethologists, veterinarians, biologists, ethics as well as technical and administrative staff work here. The department is responsible for SLU Götala beef and lamb meat research, located just outside Skara.

Research: The department is responsible for both basic and applied research in the areas animal environment and health, ethology, animal welfare, animal ethics, meat science, ruminant nutrition, agricultural economics and animal production systems. The research is carried out in collaboration with i.e. the agricultural industry, authorities and other universities within regional, national and international networks.

Education: The department educates students at the bachelor and master levels within biology, animal science, veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing programs. These programs include ethology and animal welfare, animals and sustainability, animal science, the veterinary program and the veterinary nursing program.

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/

Duties:
We are looking for a research assistant in a research project that investigates how billions of fish die in fishing. 

Every year, Danish fishing trawlers catch approx. 30 billion fish - in what is called pelagic fishing. However, no one knows how fish like herring and mackerel actually die in the process. This is problematic because fish feel pain and therefore may suffer when they die. 

To find out how it really is, a group of Danish and Swedish researchers are investigating how fish are affected during pelagic fishing. The purpose of the project is, first and foremost, to better understand how the pelagic fish die in connection with the journey from the trawl to the holding tanks. 

We will study herring during expeditions with trawlers in the North Sea, where the fish live in large shoals in the open seas. Here we will examine the condition of the fish when they come on board - for example, for damage that has occurred during the actual catch. 

We are looking for someone who is interested in fish physiology and animal welfare who will work within the project. The tasks will include data collection, analyzes and compiling results in reports and scientific publications.

Qualifications:
You must have:


• BSc in Biology, Zoology, Zoophysiology or other relevant field.
• The LAS Education & Training unit with practical training in handling and sampling fish.
• Practical experience of assessing stress and fish welfare on fish.
• Practical experience of assessing consciousness in fish.

You should also have good knowledge of spoken and written English, and also good communication skills and experience of working in a team.

Place of work:
You will be employed by the Department of Animal Environment and Health at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, but most parts of the work will be located at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, which will be the main geographical location of the position. Some of the work will also be conducted out on commercial fishing vessels.

Form of employment: 
Fixed term employment of 4 months, with possible extension.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
15 of August or according to agreement. 

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-06-10, use the button below.

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



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se