The Animal Science, Welfare and Production Division at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, calls for the expressions of interest from early career researchers to apply for an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF-2022). We will then work with selected applicants to write their full proposal for the 14th September 2022 deadline. Details are available at www.nord.no.

The Animal Science, Welfare and Production Division at the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, conducts various teaching and research activities in animal production, animal nutrition, precision livestock farming, one health, and animal welfare. More information about the Division and ongoing research projects can be obtained on our website.

Researchers at the Animal Science, Production, and Welfare Division Nord University are especially interested in hosting and training post-doctoral fellows within Sustainable Animal Nutrition. Although other related topics could also be of interest, following alternative animal feed resources will mainly be studied:

• Macroalgae Macroalgae are novel feeding resources for production animals due to their nutritional values and the contents of various bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and polysaccharides. The potential candidate will have an opportunity to address specific research questions regarding various processing techniques of macroalgae biomass and the extraction and characterization of different bioactive compounds. The candidate will also contribute to developing efficient macroalgae biorefineries to exploit macroalgae-based nutrients and bioactive compounds efficiently.
• Insects Insects have been characterized as an attractive source of nutrients with impressive amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Various feeding substrates differentially impact the growth and nutrient contents of insects. The potential candidate will have an opportunity to answer specific research questions regarding the role of different feeding substrates on the growth and development and nutritional values of insects and their suitability as a nutrient source to specific production animals.

Eligibility

• MSCA PF is open to excellent researchers of any nationality.
• Researchers must have a doctoral degree.
• At the call deadline, researchers must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date that the researcher had a doctoral degree.
• Mobility rule: the researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

Assessment and selection of candidates

• Please send a CV, including a publications list and a one-page description of the project idea to Associate Professor Prabhat Khanal, prabhat.khanal@nord.no, or Associate Professor Geir Næss, geir.nass@nord.no.
• Administrative information on MSCA can be obtained from Vilija Duleviciute, vilija.duleviciute@nord.no.
• In the first step of the process, we will choose the candidates for developing competitive MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship applications. These qualified candidates will be invited to submit a proposal to the EU-funded MSCA-PF program. Applicants will be shortlisted by an internal panel and informed of their selection for the next stage.
• There will be held a training workshop for selected applicants.
• After the workshop, the applicants will develop their MSCA-PF-2022 proposal in cooperation with their future supervisors at the Division of Animal Science, Production and Welfare, the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture.
• In addition, they will be offered individual consultations and review of their MSCA-PF-2022 proposal to submit the proposals to the EU MSCA PF program by 14th September 2022.

Successful candidates will be supervised by Associate professor Prabhat Khanal and co-supervised by Associate professor Geir Næss.

Associate Professor Khanal has more than ten years of experience in animal nutrition research and currently leading several projects within alternative feeding strategies for livestock. Currently, his research focuses on the following themes: a) Nutritional physiology, b) Use of animal models, c) Alternative nutritional strategies, and d) Livestock and environment. He is presently managing several research projects within sustainable animal nutrition. He is also the coordinator for an international project: Establishing the Circular Economy-based livestock sector through collaborative Educational and Research activities (CEER), funded via Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART).

Associate Professor Geir Næss has several years of experience in animal science and is a Work package leader of the Norwegian Research Council project focusing on sustainable animal farm structures and climate-friendly and gas-capturing buildings in livestock production. He is also the leader of the Animal Science, Production, and Welfare Division at Nord University and is involved in projects related to sustainable animal nutrition projects, including feeding trials in dairy cattle and layers.

The successful candidate will primarily work on the Marie Curie-funded project but may also be integrated into the major activities at the Animal Science, Production, and Welfare Division, taking part in regular meetings and discussion groups.

We are looking for applicants who have

• A PhD degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Aquaculture, Engineering, Bioinformatics, or similar areas.
• An excellent track record in research and publications for developing a competitive Marie Curie Fellowship application.
• Open and cooperation-oriented nature, with strong abilities for independent academic work.

It is important that potential candidates wish to use this period as an opportunity to develop their research further and to develop longer-term research collaborations with Nord University and other institutions researching the field. In addition, the candidates must be eligible for a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Please contact Assoc. Prof. Prabhat Khanal (prabhat.khanal@nord.no) for more information.