Research Assistant (m/f/d), EG 13 TV-H - in the field of animal husbandry in the tropics and subtropics

Part-time with 65.00 of the regular working hours of a full-time employee. The position is initially limited to 3 years (§ 2 Abs. 2 WissZeitVG).

FOR2432 is an interdisciplinary DFG research group investigating various dimensions of socio-ecological systems. The focus of interest is on processes of change in agriculture, ecology, economy and society caused by the rapid urbanization of peri-urban areas. This is being investigated in close cooperation with our Indian partners using the example of Bangalore, an up-and-coming megacity in southern India. The position advertised here is part of this project and deals with the "Influence of feeding and management on food quality and safety of milk". The position offers the possibility of a PhD and cannot be shared by more than one person. The main place of work is Witzenhausen, but data collection requires annual stays of several months in Bangalore/India. Tropical suitability and the willingness to spend time abroad are therefore mandatory.

Tasks:

• Recording, mapping and quantifying the flow of nutrients, heavy metals and chemical contaminants from fodder-growing regions to dairy herds along a north-south transect in Bangalore
• Quantification of milk yield and determination of milk quality, especially casein and fatty acid pattern and contaminant levels in selected dairy farms along the north-south transect
• Characterization of farm environment and management variables through appropriate measurements in selected dairy farms
• Holistic evaluation of the collected data in cooperation with an animal breeder: Identification of genotype-environment interactions that influence milk quality and safety
• Summary of research results in manuscripts that can be submitted to internationally peer-reviewed animal science journals
• Participation in project-related seminars and workshops as well as international conferences to present own results

Prerequisites:

• Completed scientific university degree (MSc or diploma) in agricultural or veterinary sciences with a focus on animal nutrition or animal physiology
• Experience in research and practical work with farm animals, especially dairy cattle
• Experience with on-farm data collection and analysis
• Proof of knowledge in feed and milk quality analysis
• Profound knowledge of the processes of nutrient intake, digestion and metabolism in ruminants
  and ability to develop appropriate conceptual models
• Fluency in English (at least 80 points in the internet-based TOEFL or equivalent language certificate)
• Ability and willingness to cooperate in/with a dedicated international and intercultural team in India and Germany

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Eva Schlecht, phone: 0561-804-981229, e-mail: schlecht[at]uni-kassel[dot]de.

The protection of your personal data is important to us, which is why we will handle your personal data with care. If you provide us with your data, you authorize us to store and use it in accordance with the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will then be deleted.

In the interests of equal opportunities, the University of Kassel endeavors to offer women and men the same development opportunities and to counteract existing disadvantages. The aim is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Qualified women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Severely disabled applicants with equal aptitude and qualifications will be given preference. Full-time positions are generally divisible. Please only send us copies of your application documents (no folders), as these cannot be returned after the selection process has been completed; they will be destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations. Applications with informative documents should be sent to the President of the University of Kassel, 34109 Kassel or bewerbungen[at]uni-kassel[dot]de, stating the reference number in the subject line, also in electronic form.