W2 Professorship “Molecular Physiology of Ruminants“

W2 Professorship “Molecular Physiology of Ruminants“

FBN - Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology

Rostock, Germany

We are seeking a scientifically distinguished candidate who is well established in the field of ruminant research and who will complement the animal sciences at AUF as well as the research groups at FBN.

At the FBN, the appointee will assume responsibility for leading and further developing the FBN focus area “Individualising livestock husbandry”. This interdisciplinary research focus brings together 15 research groups at the FBN, comprising geneticists, physiologists and ethologists, to investigate individual adaptive repertoires that affect animal health and welfare as well as the efficiency of energy and nutrient utilisation. Research in this focus area considers both intrinsic factors and external influences such as climate, feeding regimes and social interactions. The aim is to understand individuality from genome to phenotype, together with the underlying genetic, physiological and ethological mechanisms, and, on this basis, to develop robust indicators and smart solutions to improve animal welfare, animal health and efficiency.

The future post holder will lead their own research group at FBN, with responsibility for designing and conducting innovative research projects that investigate genotype–phenotype relationships in in vivo and in vitro models of ruminants. Both holistic and targeted analyses from the genome to the organismal phenotype will be integrated in order to deepen our understanding of biological systems in ruminants. The overall goal is to contribute to addressing current and future challenges in ruminant research and breeding.

At AUF, the future post holder will teach in the Bachelor’s programme in Agricultural Sciences and the Master’s programme in Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Teaching (2 contact hours per week) will cover the fundamentals of the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying trait expression in ruminants, as well as the application of state-of-the-art omics technologies in research and modern livestock production.

In addition, the future post holder is expected to contribute their research expertise to the work of the Interdisciplinary Faculty (INF) of the University of Rostock and its departments.

Suitable candidates have:

• a completed university degree in agricultural, animal or veterinary sciences, or related life sciences;
• a habilitation in the field of genetics and genomics of farm animals or equivalent scientific achievements demonstrating corresponding expertise;
• a strong research profile evidenced by publications and third-party funding in genotype–phenotype research and in vitro model systems for functional genome annotation;
• an excellent national and international network and visibility in the field of ruminant research;
• strong commitment, ambition and experience in acquiring third-party funding and in scientific publishing;
• experience in training students, supervising doctoral, Master’s and Bachelor’s theses, and in leading interdisciplinary research teams;
• the ability to develop an interdisciplinary research direction with innovation, high personal commitment and strong organisational skills; and
• very good German and English language skills or the willingness to acquire German language skills in the near future.