Tenure track position in digital monitoring of animal behaviour and welfare states. Full-time

Tenure Track Position In Digital Monitoring Of Animal Behaviour And Welfare States

Apply Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University invites applications for a position as tenure track – assistant professor in digital monitoring of animal behaviour and welfare states. The position is available from January 1, 2027, or soon thereafter and will be in the research unit Behaviour, Stress and Welfare (BSW).

The central focus of the position is to identify behavioural or acoustic patterns that signal affective states in animals, thereby strengthening our understanding of how husbandry practices influence welfare. This area holds substantial and largely unexplored innovation potential, particularly in linking continuous behavioural monitoring with practical levers to enhance welfare on farms, e.g. application of digital welfare monitoring tools. The successful candidate will advance digital and sensor-based monitoring technologies by identifying behavioural patterns that indicate emerging welfare issues, evaluating and validating existing and emerging tools. A further priority is developing intervention strategies and decision-support approaches that enable effective follow-up on sensor-generated alerts and support farmers in improving welfare outcomes. The overarching aim is to ensure that technological tools contribute meaningfully to better animal welfare and ensure their responsible use in commercial livestock systems to strengthen confidence in welfare monitoring on farms.

Key responsibilities include:

• Identify behavioural or acoustic patterns signalling affective states in animals and link these to husbandry factors influencing welfare.
• Develop and validate methods for early detection of welfare-related challenges.
• Conduct research on the applicability and performance of sensor-based technologies for monitoring animal welfare and behaviour in commercial livestock systems.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research across animal welfare science, data science and engineering.
• Attract external funding to support research activities and collaborations.
• Publish in high-impact international journals and disseminate research to stakeholders and society.

Teaching and supervision responsibilities include:

• Contribute to teaching and developing courses at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels within animal welfare and behaviour.
• Supervise student projects and contribute to talent development at all levels.

Policy advice and knowledge exchange responsibilities include:

• Contribute to research-based advice and dialogue with authorities, industry partners, and the animal production sector.
• Engage in public communication and contribute to the societal understanding of animal welfare in livestock production and responsible use of technology.

Qualifications include:

• A PhD in animal welfare science or ethology with research experience within digital monitoring tools
• Scientific papers with good citation numbers
• Clear potential to perform ground-breaking research
• Clear potential to provide scientific leadership and ability to attract external funding and manage research projects
• Ability to deliver high-quality teaching and policy advice
• Good communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to collaborate and build relationships.

What we offer includes:

• A well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment and animal experimental facilities
• An informal and multicultural research environment with high professionalism and close collaboration and networking activities
• A workplace characterised by equality and a good work-life balance and an open discussion across different fields of research.

The place of work is the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, and the area of employment is Aarhus University (AU) with related departments.