* Vacancy Post doc, 2 years Full salary: Behaviour genetics of domestication in chickens
Linköpings University, Sweden.
* Vacancy PhD student, 5 years Full salary. Behaviour genetics of domestication in chickens
Linköpings University, Sweden.
Closing date 31 January 2009.
More information: Vacancies Linkoping University Sweden
Vacancy for a Doctoral Position for research into the welfare of broiler chickens
(November 2008 – November 2012)
To support its strategic research programme the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) offers a doctoral scholarship to university graduates to carry out research towards a doctoral degree under the supervision of a university promoter and a co-promoter of ILVO (Dr F Tuyttens). The scholarship is not subjected to income tax but is subjected to social security regulations. Hence, ILVO is considered as an employer in connection with social security regulations.
The subject of the doctorate concerns research on assessing and improving the welfare of broilers.
The doctorate consists of two parts.
In the first part (until March 2010) an on-going research project commissioned by the Federal Authority: Public Health will be completed. The successful applicant will be working in a research consortium, in which besides ILVO, also the Catholic University of Leuven and the Provincial Centre for Applied Poultry Research are involved. In this project monitoring protocols are developed for assessing the overal (integrated) state of welfare of broilers on farms (on-farm) and at the slaughter line (at-slaughter). The protocols are based on the 12 dimensions of the concept “animal welfare” as formulated in the EU Welfare Quality project. In experimental set-ups promising, innovative welfare indicators (with specific attention for locomotive problems and at-slaughter problems) are developed and tested. The tentative monitoring protocols are subsequently applied under semi-commercial conditions to evaluate the effect of housing and management factors (occupancy, genotype, lighting programme and litter) on broiler welfare.
The second part of the doctoral work (April 2010 – November 2012) can largely be filled in freely by the doctoral candidate (in consultation with the promoters) as long as it fits in the topic of poultry welfare. The mobile housing systems for poultry which will shortly be available at ILVO can be used in this connection.
The doctoral work must be largely carried out at ILVO. The successful applicant can obtain two successive mandates of 24 months each. The mandate will be awarded after a positive advice of ILVO. After the mandate is awarded the successful applicant enrols immediately as doctoral scholar and fulfils the necessary administrative requirements.
The application dossier must contain the following documentation:
- a curriculum vitae,
- a copy of the exams certificate or the diploma,
- a copy of the thesis with which a university degree was obtained.
Applications and documentation must be submitted, not later than 27 October 2008, by registered letter to Dr. ir. Bart Sonck – ILVO-DIER, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle.
Applicants satisfying the general requirements listed below and withheld after a successful first selection will be invited to defend their candidature before a jury in ILVO on 4-6 November 2008.
General requirements and regulations for doctoral scholarships at ILVO
Applicants for a first mandate must satisfy the following requirements:
1. not reached the age of 28 years on 31 December 2008 when submitting an application for a first mandate;
2. submit the detailed documentation (see above);
3. have an impeccable behaviour;
4. not have been previously active in ILVO with an employment contract of more than 365 days in total as scientific personnel prior to the doctoral research.
ILVO will examine the completeness and conformity of the applications vis-à-vis the conditions for awarding a doctoral scholarship. Applicants with an approved dossier will be invited for an oral test on their general scientific knowledge and the doctoral programme by a jury appointed by ILVO. The mandates will be awarded by ILVO and become effective on the date of the agreement of the contract with ILVO. The granting of the first mandate (two years) will be based on the submitted documentation, the report of the jury and on possible directives laid down by ILVO. An evaluation will be carried out after two years by an ILVO jury together with the promoter and co-promoter. The candidate will present his/her progress report together with the activities that have been carried out in the past period. The jury will then formulate a motivated advice on awarding or refusing a new two-year mandate.
The research mandate can only be interrupted by force majeure or with mutual consent. Each case of force majeure that can lead to an interruption of the mandate must be reported immediately to the administrator-general of ILVO who will decide on possible changes in the requirements for awarding the doctoral scholarship.
The net value of the scholarship corresponds with 90 per cent of the net income of a scientific attaché employed by the Corporate Personality of ILVO (including annual leave allowance and Christmas bonus) with a similar family composition and is paid in monthly stipends. Cumulating the doctoral mandate with other professional activities, missions, or an additional income is not allowed. Possible exemptions must be communicated to ILVO and will be studied on an ad hoc basis inasmuch that they are not in conflict with the exemption of income taxation on the scholarship. Normally, part-time scholarships are not allowed but an exception can be granted in case of maternity leave or after suspension.
Participation in a doctoral training is highly recommended, the programme of which is composed in collaboration with the promoter and co-promoter. The scholar is not allowed to attend courses or take exams to obtain a master’s or bachelor’s degree.
The candidate commits himself/herself to work exclusively for the doctoral programme during the entire period of the mandate. The research mandate can be annulled at any time if the mandatory no longer satisfies the conditions of the research mandate. The mandate can be temporarily suspended in case of a long illness or absence as a result of an accident (from the 31st calendar day after the accident) and in case of pregnancy, prenatal or post-natal leave or motherhood protection leave, and can be extended under the same conditions as before the period of the interruption after the final date of the assigned period.
The contract between ILVO and the mandatory is drawn up at the start of the doctoral mandate. Reimbursement of costs and labour insurance are the same as those for Corporate Personality personnel of ILVO. The doctoral scholar is bound by the regulations and guidelines in force at ILVO.
Additional information about the content of this doctoral scholarship can be obtained from:
Dr ir Bart Sonck, Head of the Animal Sciences Unit, ILVO-DIER, Scheldeweg 68, 9090 Melle, Tel. +32-9-272 25 84, e-mail: bart.sonck@ilvo.vlaanderen.be or: Dr Frank Tuyttens ILVO-DIER, Tel. +32-9-272 26 05, e-mail:frank.tuyttens@ilvo.vlaanderen.be
For additional information on employment conditions you can contact: Mrs. Christel Van Dorpe, Personnel Manager Corporate Personality, ILVO-Management, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, bus 1, 9820 Merelbeke (Lemberge) Tel. +32-9-272 25 08, e-mail: christel.vandorpe@ilvo.vlaanderen.be. http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
