PhD Fellow in industrial animal welfare

Stig Brøndbo
26th April 2024
Languages
English

• Norsk Bokmål
• English

English
Faculty of Engineering Science and technology
PhD Fellow in industrial animal welfare
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The position

A PhD position is available at the Department of Automation and Process Engineering (IAP), Faculty of Engineering Science and technology in industrial and marine and industrial animal welfare.

The position is for a period of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.

The project

At IAP, there are several research projects related to industrial animal welfare during slaughtering of fish and other marine species. The PhD candidate is expected to contribute to ongoing and future projects with analyses and mathematical modelling of collected data. The overarching goal is to create models that can streamline the development and verification of industrial equipment in automated production lines for marine species, which will be relevant for both fisheries and aquaculture.

The candidate is expected to contribute within the following research tasks:

• Modelling and analysing cold shock, frequency spectra and bioimpedance, electrical field voltages over the fish's brain or ganglion.
• Provide a clearer definition of a satisfactory stun in connection with percussive stunning.
• Develop models based on available research data.
• Improving the analysis methods for EEG/EKG and alternative measurements on marine species, and thereby contribute to reducing the significance of behaviour as an indicator of consciousness.
• Participate in commercial slaughter tests evaluating the impact of reduced stress on the quality of marine species. Parameters that may be relevant to analyse include stress markers in blood and muscle, rigor mortis, pH, muscle quality, enzyme activity, gaping, and colour.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Endre Grimsbø: 

• phone: +47 77 62 52 87
• email: [email protected] 

or Head of Department Tor Schive:

• phone: +47 77 66 03 57
• email: [email protected]

Jon Terje Hellren Hansen, Marius Fiskum via Unsplash Jon Terje Hellren Hansen, Marius Fiskum
Qualifications

This position requires a master’s degree or equivalent in one of the following areas:

• Engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or mathematics
• Biology, Aquatic medicine, Fishery Science, Marine Biotechnology or similar

If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply.

Applicants must have documented good knowledge of English, with good communication skills both in writing and orally. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma. Regarding communication with industry stakeholders, fluency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is advantageous.

The candidate should have academic interest in, and knowledge in biology, marine industry and animal welfare, electrical current and signal processing. The candidate should have experience with and knowledge of bioimpedance and mathematical modelling. It is advantageous if the candidate has basic knowledge of neurophysiology and EEG/EKG.

The applicant must prepare a description of the PhD project of maximum 2 pages. The document should outline which of the expected research tasks, based on the candidate’s own skills and research interests, it is realistic to solve.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. The project description will also be considered. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme 

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology  and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:  

• A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS. 
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS. 

UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

In order to gain admission to the programme, applicants with a background from a Norwegian institution should have a minimum grade of C on their master thesis and a weighted grade average of 3.0 for the last two years of their master programme. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here . 

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT . Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. 

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position. 

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

Edvard Kristiansen via Unsplash Edvard Kristiansen
We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project 
• Good career opportunities 
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues  
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement  
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 532 200 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility

Application 

Your application must include: 

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diploma for bachelor's and master's degree
• Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor's and master's degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian  (or a Scandinavian language) (if applicable)
• 2-3 references with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
• Project description (2 pages)

Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcripts for the master’s degree with your application.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline. 

General information 

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants . 

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no .

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years. 

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure. 

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.

Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.

Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.

We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through the following three strategic priority areas.

Apply for this job
Deadline

26th April 2024

Employer

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Municipality

Tromsø - Romsa

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service
Hansine Hansens veg18, 9019 Tromsø

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