The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (
SLU) seeks applicants for a postdoctoral position in honeybee welfare and protection at the
Department of Ecology. The research group’s main focus is on insect pathology and disease transmission concerning honeybee health, but also bumblebees and wild bees. More specifically, the group studies how pathogens and parasites interact with their host and how these interactions are influenced by environmental factors, pesticides, and even beekeeping techniques to try to identify sustainable solutions to mitigate disease.
The successful candidate will be offered a stimulating context with colleagues who focus on various aspects of bee health and have an internationally extensive collaborative network. The postdoc candidate will also have a close working collaboration with colleagues in ethics, ethology, and animal welfare research at the
Department of Animal Environment and Health to stimulate the welfare perspective of this project.
About the position
This project aims to define and improve honeybee welfare by assessing the full extent of honeybee ethical and welfare issues and stakeholder attitudes and values to these concepts, and by quantifying welfare parameters under different types of management to establish a baseline for honeybee welfare assessment, while comparing management approaches from a welfare perspective. The position holder will be responsible for compiling a literature review, collecting samples, contacting labs and stakeholders, mapping management practices, and analysing the results, as well as developing a relevant score sheet for assessing welfare and analysing the results.
Your profile
- Doctoral degree in biology, zoology, ecology, animal science, or veterinary medicine with a research focus in animal and/or insect welfare, or insect pathology;
- Prior experience working with honeybees is a merit, as well as studies in ethics or philosophy;
- Ability to work independently and take a leading role in driving a research programme while also working with a team and strengthening collaborations;
- Previous contribution to research through publications in peer-reviewed international journals;
- Excellent English language skills (both oral and written);
- Highly motivated with a deep interest in pursuing academic research at the forefront of this research area, combining insect health and animal welfare.
As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, SLU is primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is at most three years old. Great emphasis is also placed on the personal qualities of a suitable candidate for this position.
Additional information
- Location: Uppsala, Sweden
- Form of employment: Temporary employment for 24 months, with the possibility of extension.
- Scope: 100% or according to agreements.
- Start date: As soon as possible, according to agreements.
Deadline
The deadline for application is 25 February 2024
Learn more and apply here.