LECTURER/SENIOR LECTURER/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR/PROFESSOR IN BEHAVIOURAL GENETICS/EPIGENETICS at University of Bristol

The role

Bristol Veterinary School (BVS) is seeking to recruit a dynamic researcher with skills in behavioural genetics/epigenetics and an interest in animal welfare science to develop, build and lead research into the underlying genetic influences on animal behaviour and welfare.

Through a better understanding of how gene-environment interactions influence animal behaviour, health and welfare, we will be able to identify genetic risk factors for behaviour and welfare problems, and the heritability of characteristics including emotional traits in companion and farm species that influence coping abilities. This will allow us to make predictions about the development of resilient or vulnerable phenotypes, alter early rearing conditions accordingly, screen for specific genotypes, and select against abnormal and undesirable behaviour in animal breeding programmes. Together, these developments have huge potential for improving the welfare of animals living alongside people.

To achieve these goals, the successful applicant will be expected to develop a funded research programme in a relevant area which may include, but is not limited to: population-level GWAS (genome-wide association studies) to detect genetic variants associated with behaviour or welfare-relevant traits; lab-based studies of the genetics/genomics of welfare-relevant traits and animal personality differences; development of non-invasive genetic indicators of, and screening for, at-risk or resilient phenotypes; identification of genetic and epigenetic risk factors for behaviour disorders in companion animals; welfare implications of genetic selection for production characteristics in farmed animals and genetic modification of laboratory animals; implications of breeding practices for welfare in companion animals.

Applicants with interests, skills and experience in these and other relevant areas are welcome, but they must have a clear vision of how their work will advance animal welfare and/or animal welfare science and/or generate methods for improving animal welfare and resilience or minimising welfare harms.

The post is advertised from Lecturer to Professor level.

The post is based at Bristol Veterinary School on the University of Bristol’s Langford campus, within the Faculty of Health Sciences.

What will you be doing?

You will develop your research in a collaborative environment encompassing the Bristol Animal Welfare and Behaviour Research Community and BVS researchers in other areas including animal infection, immunity and disease, AMR, clinical research, sustainable agriculture and livestock production, agricultural economics, and animal nutrition, and a cross-cutting data science community, all sitting within two over-arching research themes of Population Health and Global Food Security. Many collaborative opportunities in the wider University are also available. You will be expected to build a research group through external funding from UKRI and related funders, supervise postgraduate research students, and contribute to teaching in relevant subject areas on one or more of our Veterinary Science BVSc (incl. Accelerated Graduate Entry Programme), Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour BSc, and Global Wildlife Health & Conservation MSc programmes.

You should apply if

Applicants should have a PhD in animal welfare or a related subject and a strong track record of publication and grant funding success, commensurate with experience and the level at which they apply.

Additional information

Work pattern: Full time 1.0 FTE (though we are happy to discuss flexible working including part-time and/or job-share applications).