PhD scholarship within ruminant nutrition and physiology

About the position

The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD–position related to research within the area of methane emission from dairy cows on pasture.

The position is a part of the project ‘Mitigating methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle through pasture grazing’ funded by the Research Council of Norway (project no. 344533). The project is carried out in close collaboration with the Norwegian dairy industry (TINE), feed industry (Felleskjøpet Fôrutvikling), meat industry (KLF, Nortura and Animalia) and breeding organizations (Tyr). There is international cooperation through Agroscope (Switzerland) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The aim of the project is to improve the environmental and social sustainability of ruminant livestock production by identifying methane mitigation potential of pasture grazing under Norwegian conditions. The expected outcome of the research is improved knowledge on enteric methane emissions of animals on pasture grazing compared to indoor feeding. 

The project will explore the mitigation potential of pasture and feed additive management in both dairy and beef cows, with focus on dairy cows in the PhD work. Three experiments will be conducted. Two of them will investigate the effect of feed additive at early and late pasture, respectively. The third experiment will compare pasture, cut-and-carry feeding, and silage feeding under comparable conditions. In the experiments, intake of nutrients (from both forage and concentrate), digestion of nutrients, metabolism of nutrients, animal performance (production of milk and meat), and enteric methane emission will be monitored using the research facilities at NMBU. Enteric methane will be monitored using the GreenFeeder system.

The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD program at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.

Main tasks

• Improve scientific skills by attending and completing relevant PhD courses.
• Take part in planning and conducting of animal experiments at field.
• Carry out laboratory work and analyses related to the experiments.
• Collect and process data including statistical analyses.
• Write and publish scientific articles in reputable international journals in collaboration with the supervisory group.
• Participate in meetings with the Norwegian feed, meat and dairy industry.
• Participate and present project results at national and international conferences.
• Complete and submit a PhD-thesis within three years.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to complete a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period. 

Competence

To be considered for the position, the applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. A master's degree of at least 120 credits (ECTS) based on a bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits (ECTS) is required. Comparable or integrated master degrees of at least 300 credits (ECTS) can be considered. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies, and be able to document good English skills, both written and oral. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications:

Master degree in animal science, or comparable relevant field.

Experiences and skills that will be emphasized:

• Good skills in oral and written Scandinavian languages
• Experience within handling of large ruminants
• Experience in experimental work within agriculture and livestock.
• Experience in laboratory work.
• Great interest in ruminant nutritional physiology.  
• Knowledge in Norwegian dairy and beef production.
• Good skills in processing data and statistics

You need to:

• Be motivated for career and competence development. 
• Be timely, curious and highly motivated for research.
• Be accurate and patient when performing experimental work.
• Have good communicative skills, both written and oral. 
• Have good ability to work both independently and in teams.

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD. Fellow. PhD. Fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532.200,-) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact Prof. Egil Prestløkken (main supervisor), E-mail: egil.prestlokken@nmbu.no; phone +47 67 23 26 54

Information for PhD applicants and general information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 22.11.2024

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV 
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system. Number of ECTS in bachelor (minimum 180), master (minimum 120), or comparable studies (minimum 300) must be specified.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3). 
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.

About The Faculty of Biosciences

The Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT) aims to shape the future of food and bioproduction through teaching and research in biology and sustainable production and use of plants, livestock and fish. The faculty has a large project portfolio and an annual turnover of approximately NOK 250 million. 

BIOVIT is organized into seven research groups: Genome Biology, Breeding, Genetics and Food Production Systems, Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology, Ethology and Animal Welfare, Nutrition and Physiology for Monogastric Animals, Plant Biology, Sustainable Food Systems and Integrated Plant Protection, and Genetics, Evolution and Sustainable Plant Production. Additionally, the faculty has seven research support and laboratory units.

BIOVIT is responsible for bachelor’s and master’s programs in aquaculture, biology, animal science, and plant science, as well as English-language master’s programs in Agroecology, Plant Sciences, Feed Manufacturing Technology, and Genome Sciences. BIOVIT also offers Ph.D. programs in animal science and plant science. Currently, the faculty has about 550 bachelor’s and master’s students and 90 Ph.D. students. BIOVIT employs approximately 230 staff members and has its own faculty administration.