Applications are invited for a PhD position at ...

Applications are invited for a PhD position at the University of Aarhus, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF), department of Animal Health and Bioscience. The position is available for three years beginning as soon as possible. Research area and project description Liquid feed is used worldwide in pig production. Feeding pigs with fermented liquid feed (FLF) improves gastrointestinal health of the animals and reduces the contamination of pork products with the zoonotic agent Salmonella. Liquid feed provides an opportunity to modify raw materials prior to feeding and therefore to include ingredients less suitable for dry feeding. Fermentation can improve the nutritional value of the dietary ingredients by increasing protein digestibility and decreasing the content of antinutritional compounds. The impact of FLF on growth performance is, however, variable. Microbial degradation of amino acids and microbial production of metabolites that impair palatability of the mixture are considered important factors involved in the negative performance data. The influence of fermentation on the properties of liquid feed depends on various factors like substrate source, temperature, duration of the fermentation process and use of starter cultures. A thorough knowledge of the dynamics of the fermentation process is crucial in order to obtain a product of optimal microbial and nutritional quality.  The overall aim of the project is to carry out an exhaustive study of the microbial and biochemical characteristics of liquid feed during fermentation. Liquid co-products and locally grown energy and protein sources will be used. The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will be the core of the project in which the microbial processes taking place during fermentation under varying conditions will be investigated. In vitro studies will be performed in bioreactors to establish the conditions affecting amino acid degradation, production of biogenic amines, reduction of antinutritional compounds, etc. Combinations of relevant dietary ingredients, addition of starter cultures, and various temperatures will be included as variables affecting the quality of the final product.  During the second phase of the project the in vivo ileal and total tract digestibility of nutrients in fermented liquid feed samples selected from the first phase will be determined with surgically modified pigs Qualifications Applicants to the PhD positions must have a relevant Master’s degree (or graduate in the very near future – documentation for final thesis and date of examination must be enclosed in the application) or equivalent.  Place of Employment and Place of Work  The place of employment is the University of Aarhus, and the place of work is the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Blichers Allé 20, P.O. BOX 50, DK-8830 Tjele. Salary and Terms of Employment Salary and terms of employment are according to current agreement for state-employed academics and government circular from the Ministry of Finance regarding PhD students as well as the appointment structure of 2007 for scientific personnel at universities. Matriculation as a PhD student will be in accordance with Ministerial Order no. 18 of 14 January 2008 on the PhD Programme at Universities, and matriculation at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences is a prerequisite for employment as a PhD student. Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact senior scientist Nuria Canibe, tel. +******or e-mail: ******. Application In order for your application to be taken into consideration you must meet the following requirements (please find the application form here)  „h  Your application must be in pdf-format only – and must consist of only 1 file. Please include all the documents you wish to be evaluated in one single pdf-file. „h  A motivation for your application of no more than 2000 letters and spaces must be included in your application. Here you should explain why you wish to work on that particular project and how you can contribute. Your motivation should further include a description of your scientific qualifications (in addition to your Master degree) for accomplishing the PhD study.  „h  Foreign diplomas (Master, Bachelor and the like) must be provided in the original language as well as in an English translation. For all diplomas, Danish or otherwise, transcripts containing the names and grades/marks for all courses taken must also be included. Please send your application by the form below. Closing date for applications is 15 August 2009 at 12.00 noon. Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered! The University of Aarhus encourages all, irrespective of personal background, to apply. The University of Aarhus has 35,000 students, 8,500 members of staff and a turnover of DKK 4.8 billion in 2008. The university’s strategy and development contract are available at http://www.au.dk/en/strategy