We’re hiring a predoctoral research fellow in Vital Pup!
In brief:
- We’re offering a predoctoral research fellowship in animal behaviour/welfare to study perinatal mortality in laboratory mouse breeding
- Applications open until 20 November 2022, fellowship to start 1 January 2023
- Link to the formal call: https://www.i3s.up.pt/job-opportunities.php (look for Reference Fellow_BID/FCT_Proj2021/i3S/02112011/2022)
More details about the fellowship and the project:
We’re looking for an early career researcher to join our team starting 1 January and for at least 12 months. The fellowship can be prolonged until a total of 24 months, and we will also support future applications for a PhD fellowship to continue to work in the project.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a BSc and Master or integrated MSc degree in animal science, veterinary medicine, biology or related fields. Candidates are required to have experience with laboratory animals and/or animal behaviour and welfare research as well as research experience and motivation to pursue a research career, excellent English, and availability to carry out fieldwork in other European countries.
The Vital Pup project addresses preweaning mortality in laboratory mouse breeding, a major welfare and economic problem worldwide. We are studying (i) Mechanisms by which social environment influences neonatal mortality, (ii) Mechanisms by which cage climate and husbandry influence neonatal mortality, (iii) Establishing robust and comprehensive pup mortality data across laboratory mouse strains, (iv) Predicting parturition by automated measurements of behaviour and vocalisations, and (v) Management measures to prevent neonatal pup mortality. Depending on candidate experience and interest, it may be possible to focus on one or several of these questions.
The fellowship is based in the Laboratory Animal Science group at i3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health at the University of Porto. i3S is the biggest biomedical research institution in Portugal and home to over 200 PhD students. i3S is investing in promoting the 3Rs of animal experimentation and Vital Pup is part of the Refinement research developed in the institution.
Vital Pup is an international project and research periods at other partner institutions will be part of the work program.
There is a formal requirement that a candidate is registered as a student when they take up the fellowship. We will help in finding a suitable course.
If you have questions regarding the fellowship, please e-mail Anna Olsson olsson@ibmc.up.pt
Vital Pup 