Junior Researcher focusing on Ethology and Animal Welfare

The University of Life Sciences in Prague is inviting junior researchers focusing on Ethology and Animal Welfare to submit an application for work stay within the project of International Mobility of Researchers  

Position: Junior Researcher

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Department: Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Job type: Full Time

Term contract duration: maximally 23 months (July/August 2021 – June 2023)

The estimated gross monthly wage with obligatory employee taxes at full time is 2, 350 EUR and the estimated net monthly wage at full time is 1, 800 EUR

The mobility is funded within the project “Supporting the development of international mobility of research, technical and administrative staff at CZU Prague”, reg. no. CZ.02.2.69 / 0.0 / 0.0 / 18_053 / 0016979.

Topic: Ethology and Animal Welfare

Objectives/Job description:

The successful candidate will develop, in the research group of Marek Špinka, a conceptual and mathematical model of the ontogenetic development and evolutionary dynamics of animal play behaviour. The main goal will be to examine the specific possible ontogenetic mechanisms underlying various functional hypotheses of mammalian play, including the ‘training for the unexpected’ hypothesis. Another possible aspect of the modelling work will address the emotional and motivational underpinnings and welfare aspects of juvenile mammalian play. The modelling methods may include, among others, agent-based and game-theoretical approaches. The junior researcher will also have the opportunity to participate in designing, evaluating and interpreting experiments investigating play and cooperative behaviour in laboratory Norway rats, domestic pigs, dogs and young human children.

To be considered for a position, applicants must meet all these requirements:

• junior researcher (Post-doc) coming from abroad
• good publishing record (min. two publishing outputs in three last years)
• experience with mathematical modelling

Application should contain:

• Diploma, diploma supplement (with nostrification, if necessary)
• Structured CV with publication list
• Documents showing research activities outside the Czech Republic for at least 2 years in last 3 years (can be proven in a professional CV)
• Statement of Interest containing your motivation, intended research approach with respect to the current state of art and an Open Access publication plan

Application deadline:

Please apply before June 8, 2021 by sending all required documents to vilimovska@af.czu.cz.