The Animal welfare research group has a vacant permanent researcher position at Austevoll Research Station. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is the Norwegian Authority’s centre of competence and main advisor with regards to animal welfare within fisheries and aquaculture. The researcher in this position will be responsible for conducting and communicating research that can provide a basis for advice for better welfare for farmed fish, with focus on work related to commercial farming of salmon, use of cleaner fish, lice management, fish behaviour, method development and cage environments.
About the research group and area of research
The Animal welfare group is responsible for building up research expertise and knowledge, and for conducting and communicating research that can provide a basis for advice for better animal welfare. Working in close collaboration with other research groups at IMR and international institutions, the group studies a wide range of topics including host-parasite interactions, environmental variation in fish farming operations, what environmental conditions fish prefer and avoid, how fish cope with stress and handling, develop and verifying indicators for objective welfare evaluation, and how fish behaviour can be influenced to improve welfare and adaptation to novel technologies.
Main tasks
The principal areas of research for this position will include investigating how cage technology affect salmon welfare, cleaner fish coping ability and welfare in cages, lice management practices, cage environments and fish behaviour in modern salmon aquaculture, both through fundamental studies and in the context of existing and emerging aquaculture concepts and environments.
Moreover, the knowledge generated should be carried over to commercial applications with the aim to improve fish welfare and create more sustainable and ethical aquaculture. Main tasks in the position will include project management, publication of results in scientific journals, applying for grants, contributing to advisory work within the institute and supervision of students. The candidate will be expected to develop, plan, coordinate and conduct studies at our research facilities and in the field, including commercial sites; organise and analyse datasets; communicate and disseminate the findings to broad audiences.
Qualification requirements
For this position, we are seeking a researcher who is skilled with the full work process from designing to disseminating both fundamental experiments at small and medium scale research facilities and commercial scale field trails which address welfare and behavioural coping mechanisms in fish. Experience from research on how to manage sea lice and salmon health within fluctuating environments at commercial scale is a necessity. The ideal candidate will have experience working with both scientists and the industry and will be excited to develop his/her career in a combined field of research and advice where the results have direct practical implications for the regulation and further development of Norwegian aquaculture.
In evaluation of candidates, we will emphasize the following knowledge and qualifications:
- Doctorate in aquaculture or other relevant fields.
- Expertise in salmon aquaculture, cage technology, cleaner fish use, fish behaviour, environmental monitoring including their effect on fish health and parasites, fish welfare evaluation and impacts of parasites/relevant pathologies on cultured species.
- Ability to communicate research findings to broad audiences through stakeholder meetings, international conference presentations, and public outreach.
- Peer-reviewed relevant publication record (5+), including first authorships.
- Collaborative background, including ability to work with industrial partners and national and international research partners.
Desired competencies
In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following skills and expertise:
- Ability to write grant applications and partially secure external funding.
- Documented expertise in data analysis.
- Experience with supervision of students.
- Experience in designing and conducting experiments at all scales (tank trials, research and commercial cages) including novel setups and methods.
- Ability to initiate and develop research concepts independently.
- A broad methodological repertoire relevant to fish welfare and behaviour.
- Comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge on fish welfare and parasites with regards to new technologies and environmental factors relevant to salmon aquaculture.
The working language at IMR is Norwegian, and good communication skills in Norwegian will be beneficial for both the applicant and IMR. Sufficient progression in learning to speak and write Norwegian is expected during the first two years of employment. If needed, language training will be offered, and costs incurred will be reimbursed based upon completion of the language course.
Personal competencies
The Animal Welfare research group is relatively small, with members divided across multiple IMR offices. Therefore, the candidate must have the ability to communicate effectively and enjoy working independently. The candidate must also be willing to go on sampling trips for extended periods of time, including travel both within Norway and abroad.
- Well organised in managing equipment, budgets, and other staff for research activities.
- Ability to work independently and in a team.
- Eagerness to work in a variety of situations and environments.
- Create a positive working environment, and contribution to the work.
We offer:
The position is paid as 1109 researcher, in accordance with the Norwegian wage regulations.
In addition, the researcher will benefit from:
- The opportunity to work in one of Europe’s leading marine research institutions
- Challenging tasks and a creative work environment
- World class research facilities
- Flexible working hours
- Public sector occupational pension through Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Corporate cabins and sport teams
Additional information
Please submit your application electronically through this site, enclosing a full CV including a list of publications, copies of relevant recommendations and academic transcripts. Please document skills and give at least two references that can be contacted.
Please note that information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested to be exempted from the list of applicants. Applicants will be notified about this in advance.
For more information about the position, please contact research group leader Lars H. Stien or senior researcher Frode Oppedal by
- Phone: +47 912 43 951/ +47 971 66 781
- E-mail: lars.helge.stien@hi.no/ frodeo@hi.no
Further information about this opportunity can be found here.