PhD: Development of automatic monitoring of dairy cow and calf behaviour
Deadline: 15.05.2026
Publisert
Through research, education and social engagement, Nord University contributes to the creation of a sustainable future.In cooperation with society, business and industry in Northern and Central Norway, our 11,500 students and 1,350 staff promote innovative solutions and knowledge-based practice, both locally and internationally.Nord University has four strategic focus areas: blue and green growth, sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, societal security, and health, welfare and education.
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) educates people with the aim of promoting sustainable and innovative development to meet global challenges in food production, climate and environment. The faculty is an international arena for education, research and knowledge dissemination, with employees and students from 39 different countries. The faculty offers a PhD in Biosciences. FBA has 900 students and 165 employees in Bodø and Steinkjer. The professional community is organised into the following divisions: Aquaculture, Ecology, Genomics and Animal Science, Production and Welfare and Algae and microbial biotechnology.
Would you like to help create knowledge that makes a difference? At Nord University, we develop future solutions through education, research, and collaboration with the society around us.
Together, we shape the future with roots in the North and our eyes on what lies ahead.
Nord in the world - knowledge for the future.
...
(Video unable to load from YouTube. Accept cookie and refresh page to watch video, or click here to open video)
About the PhD Fellowship
Faculty of biosciences and aquaculture, Nord University, Norway, invites applications from outstanding candidates for a three-year PhD position in animal science.
Join an innovative PhD project tackling one of dairy farming’s most debated welfare challenges: early cow–calf separation. By the development of AI-based tools to measure cow–calf interactions, the project aims to generate new scientific insights into CCC systems and contribute to future welfare policy for cow-calf housing. If you are interested in the cross-section of animal behaviour research and automatic animal monitoring – this project is for you! The project will include an animal trial at the Livestock Production Research Centre, NMBU, Ås, Norway and the successful candidates will be expected to travel for research stays, courses and conferences.
The successful candidate will be part of one of the academic divisions Animal Science, Production and Welfare.
This is a three-year contract based in Steinkjer, Trøndelag, Norway.
Qualification requirements
A completed master’s degree that meets the admission requirements, relevant academic backgrounds include ethology, animal or veterinary science, computer engineering or other closely related disciplines
Good English skills, both written and oral
Skills
Experience in conducting farm animal trials and knowledge of fundamental ethology in farm animals
Knowledge of data handling, with some exposure to big-data workflows or modelling
Good communication and interpersonal skills
Candidates who already have a PhD degree will not be considered for the position.
Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria:
Theme and perspectives from the applicant’s master’s project
The applicant’s description of motivation for the doctoral work and opportunities for completion
Personal suitability and scientific integrity
Relevant experience from research work
Ability to work independently, goal-oriented and systematically
We offer
The annual salary for doctoral researchers (code 1017) is NOK 550 800,-.
Advantages within the Government Pension Fund for loans, insurance and pension
Creative and collegial working environment
A workplace with progressive development
Flexible working hours
Active university sports team
General information
The person who is appointed must abide by the applicable laws, agreements, and directives. The responsibilities and duties associated with the position may change with future reorganization at Nord University.
Nord University is subject to the Security Act, which sets requirements for the handling of classified and sensitive information. To increase security in the hiring process, Nord may conduct background checks on relevant candidates.
The public sector workforce is expected to reflect the diversity of the population in general. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CV, immigrant backgrounds or different life experience to apply.
If applicants indicate they have disabilities or gaps in their CV, their details may be used anonymously for the purposes of governmental annual review
Application process
Applicants will be evaluated by an internal expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited for an interview, trial lecture or other presentations. For more information, see Nord`s website .
The Faculty reserve the right not to hire applicants who may be scientifically qualified but who do not meet other criteria such as language, educational background or personal characteristics
Application
Applications must be submitted electronically by 15.05.2026.
The application should include:
Application letter with description of your motivation for applying for the position
Complete CV (education, work and teaching experience and overview of any scientific publications)
Copy of the applicant’s master’s thesis
Copy of diploma for both bachelor and master education and relevant certificates
Applicants with education from countries outside Scandinavia with diplomas issued in a language other than English, must enclose witnessed diplomas in both the original language and authorized English translations
Project description of 3-5 pages where you explain the idea for the PhD project, including theoretical anchoring, methodological approach, expected outcomes and a clear time line of the whole PhD project.
Name and contact information of 1-3 references (name, your relation to the person, email and phone number)
Other activity that is considered relevant for the position, and wishes to be taken into account in the assessment
All documents must be uploaded as attachments as a PDF files to the electronic application form.
It is the applicant's responsibility to submit the complete documentation within the deadline. Failure to include items mentioned above will automatically render the candidate unqualified.
After the application period has expired a list of applicants will be published. Note that, in special cases, the identity of particular applicants to a position may be made public even when that applicant has requested that their application be processed confidentially. Applicants requesting an exemption from publication of their identity must explain their reasons for doing so in their application. In this case, advance notice will be given in the event of a decision to make any information about the applicant public.
