PhD scholarship in interactions between fish microbiomes and health and welfare in aquaculture

Job Details

The microbiome is an essential contributor to animal health and welfare through participating in the vital physiological processes and guiding host development. The positive connection between diverse microbiome and animal health and welfare has been found in the terrestrial farmed animals, while many knowledge gaps remain in the aquatic farming environment due to diverse range of farmed species, rearing systems, and husbandry practices. This Ph.D. position aims to gain new knowledge on fish microbiome-health & welfare dynamics, the development, stability, and resilience of microbiomes and performance and robustness of fish with different microbiome profiles.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your focus will be to examine the mucosal microbial communities and health and welfare indicators in rainbow trout at different life-stages in an aquaculture environment. 

Your responsibilities are expected to include:

• Designing and conducting fish experiments in aquaculture facilities
• Collecting biological samples and observational data
• Sample analysis in the laboratory using state-of-art molecular microbiology techniques and fish health and welfare analysis 
• Sequencing data analysis (bioinformatics)
• Scientific dissemination of results
• Completing the required PhD school courses and conducting an external research stay
• Teaching and supervision of MSc students

Requirements

Desired qualifications and skills:

• Curiosity and high motivation for research
• A relevant background in microbiology, molecular biology, animal physiology, or a related field
• Experience in chemical, microbiological, and/or molecular laboratory work
• Experience in experimental work with fish and/or aquaculture systems
• Accuracy and patience for laboratory and experimental work
• Interest towards statistics and bioinformatics
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Contact Information

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Sanni-Leea Aalto, e-mail: sheaa@aqua.dtu.dk  

You can read more about Section for Aquaculture at https://www.aqua.dtu.dk/english/about/organization/scientific-sections/section-for-aquaculture