Assistant Professor of Applied Informatics for Livestock Management

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Assistant Professor of Applied Informatics for Livestock Management

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Position Description:

Considering the continued development and use of data-driven precision systems in the livestock sector, McGill University’s Department of Animal Science invites applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor in Applied Informatics for Livestock Management. With the increased use of on-farm sensors, and the ensuing requirements of big-data analyses for decision support, this area is not only critical for most interdisciplinary animal research but is fast becoming an essential component of our students’ curricula, research, and training. The candidate will have the opportunity to play a key role in the Faculty’s commitment to the development of Smart-Farming facilities on Campus.  In addition, the candidate is expected to contribute to the teaching complement in Bioinformatics, Precision Livestock Farming, Big Data Management and Analytics, which are areas our students will pursue for livestock agriculture and environmental sustainability. If eligible for the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program, the candidate may be supported by the University for nomination to a Tier II CRC in Applied Informatics for Livestock Management, which provides protected time for research within a full-time academic appointment.

The Department of Animal Science has solid links with livestock industry and is equipped with an array of laboratories and equipment to carry out research in the areas of nutrition, reproduction, large animal biotechnology, animal welfare, genetics, information systems, bioinformatics, microbiology and food safety.  The Macdonald Campus Farm is situated on Campus and offers exceptional opportunities for observational and experimental research applicable to the dairy and poultry sectors. Researchers within the Faculty and the Department have strong collaborations with the McGill Genome Innovation Centre , Genome Canada and My Intelligent Machines .  These centers offer cutting edge platforms and services for –omics approaches and data integration, analysis, and sharing. The candidate will also have access to high-performance computing (e.g., Calcul Quebec ).

The Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is located on the Macdonald Campus , 30 km from Montreal’s city centre and the downtown Campus.  It is in close proximity to the Montreal life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. The Campus comprises 650 hectares which, in addition to the livestock units, houses the Morgan Arboretum, the Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre, and experimental field stations. The Faculty has a strong record in research, and graduate and undergraduate training in agricultural, environmental, food, and human nutrition sciences, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and small and large animal disease models, and bioresource engineering. The Faculty actively supports inter-disciplinary teaching and research and contributes to McGill’s global leadership position through numerous international research and field training programs.

Job Duties:

The successful candidate is expected to lead a strong research team of students and scientists by acquiring external funding from national and provincial sources (e.g., Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Genome Canada, Dairy Farmer of Canada, Ministère de l'agriculture, des pêcheries et de l'alimentation, Fonds Nature et Technologies, Genome Quebec, etc.). There is opportunity to utilize and contribute to various data sources (e.g., The Québec-Atlantic Dairy Production Centre of Expertise, ‘omics’ databases and on-farm sensory data) as well as incorporate other sources of big data from within the Faculty and beyond (e.g., forage, genetic, weather, environment, economic, etc.).  The on-Campus Farm also provides a living laboratory for experimentation, illustration, and teaching, directly related to this position. In addition to maintaining an active research program, the candidate will teach undergraduate courses in the areas of programming, big data analytics, precision livestock farming as well as graduate courses that are related to the candidate’s research area. The candidate is also expected to participate in all aspects of McGill’s academic mission (i.e., teaching, graduate student supervision, mentorship, and involvement in academic and administrative committees).

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

The successful candidate must have a PhD and postdoctoral training in an area such as machine learning, big-data analytics, or predictive analysis; this training should have been taken in a health or management context of Dairy, Poultry or Swine. Strong experience in cloud tools for simulation, modeling and prediction techniques, as well as expertise in the current programming languages (e.g., R, Python, Perl, etc.), are essential. Outstanding collaborative and communication skills (knowledge of French would be beneficial) and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications, are also expected.

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.
Faculty/Department/Unit:
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Department of Animal Science

Job Type:
Tenure-track
Rank:
Assistant Professor
Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Posting Period:
Please submit your application within 30 days of the publication of this advertisement.

Application Deadline:

January 31, 2023, or until position is filled.  
Required Documents:

The following supporting documents are required:

• Cover letter (1 page)

• Curriculum Vitae (Academic experience, employment experience, publication record, grant writing experience, teaching/mentorship experience, awards/recognitions, list of three referees)

• Research statement (2-3 pages) describing a 5-year research plan built upon past research experience, current industry needs and potential funding opportunities.

• Teaching statement (1 page) describing teaching philosophy and plans to teach undergraduate courses in Animal Science

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures . Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] .

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.