Three-year Assistant Professor position in animal breeding plan research

Job profile

The Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), Aarhus University seeks an assistant professor to work in the area of breeding plan under both conventional and organic production systems in livestock, and insects for food and feed. The position is for three years, begins on 01 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position

QGG has multiple research projects on breeding of livestock under commercial and organic production systems. These projects aim at advancing theoretical and applied research for both conventional livestock species and insect breeding for feed and food. The position requires expertise in developing breeding goals, optimizing breeding plans, developing economic values for the traits, and creating tools for strategic and operational breeding decisions. This position will also require the ability to develop a competitive research program in these fields while collaborating with existing research areas within QGG and to collaborate with industry partners. High-throughput phenotyping techniques will play a crucial role in enhancing the current breeding goals, especially in insect breeding. You are required to contribute to analyze image, and sensors data to assess phenotypes in insects.
This position requires you to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, and supervise Master's students.

The candidate must have:

• Holds a PhD with a strong background in quantitative genetics and animal breeding with proven research experience, backed by 2-4 years of relevant postdoctoral experience.
• Has a clear record of accomplishment of scientific impact and high-quality contributions to the field, which may include publications, presentations, book chapters, reports, patents, and scientific outreach activities.
• Has a track record to secure research funding.
• Has a record of collaboration with academic and industry partners.
• Has good experience in teaching.
• Possesses proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, R, and C++).
• Possesses effective communication skills and can communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, whether in academia, industry, or society.
• Shows interest in mentoring junior scientists with diverse skill sets, including research, communication, and career development.

Successful candidates will be expected to:

• Work in ongoing projects at QGG related to development of breeding plans in livestock and insect species
• Deliver innovative research of international standard
• Significantly contribute to developing new project proposals
• Actively publishing high-quality research
• Collaborate with a diverse group of researchers both internally and internationally
• Collaborate with partners in commercial breeding organizations

Who are we and what can we offer?

QGG is an international research center with more than 70 employees and visitors from more than 20 nations worldwide. We offer a dynamic research environment where we value ownership, responsibility and a respectful work place culture. We conduct basic and applied research within quantitative genetics and genomics and our research is characterized by a very close collaboration with industry partners. Hence, you will be part of a research environment where results are put practice and are used by industry and in public sector consultancy to facilitate the green transition. QGG is part of Aarhus University (AU), a world class university. The city Aarhus is an exciting place to live with a strong student community and a high standard of living.

Place of work

The place of work is C. F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000, Aarhus C, in the centre of the Aarhus University main campus, and neighboring highly related departments.

Contact information

Further information about the position may be obtained from Senior Researcher, Goutam Sahana, e-mail: goutam.sahana@qgg.au.dk  
 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.