PhD scholarship concerning how exercise and hay improve pig minds, guts and welfare

8th May 2026
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• English

English

FitPig explores if daily physical activity and free access to hay can improve pig health and welfare

PhD scholarship concerning how exercise and hay improve pig minds, guts and welfare
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About the position

The Department of Animal and aquacultural sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has one vacant 3-year PhD–position. The successful PhD will work in a team with several researchers/professors including international collaborators, another PhD at the School of Veterinary Science focusing more on the physiological part, as well as master students and veterinary students assigning to do their thesis connected to this project. The main goal of the project is to identify reliable behavioral and physiological markers that signal good welfare and robust gut–brain health. While being a basic research project, insights from the project could guide the livestock industry towards more science-based enrichment practices. 

The project is divided into four main parts:

1. Test how hay and physical activity affect behavior, social interactions, cognition, and welfare.

2. Test how hay and physical activity influence physiological stress (via cortisol), gut inflammation, and the prevalence of stomach ulcers.

3. Test how hay and physical activity influence brain plasticity in regions linked to emotion and memory (the frontal cortex and hippocampus).

4. Integrates all data to uncover how enrichment influences the complex connections between brain, gut, and behavior.

Main tasks

• Plan and conduct pig experiments, behavioural observations, behavioural tests, taking saliva samples for cortisol analysis, statistical analysis
• Collaborate closely with the PhD that will be hired at the School of Veterinary Science on the same project and the rest of the project team
• Process research data and publish findings as scientific publications and a PhD thesis.
• Complete mandatory courses for the PhD program.
• Present and discuss research at internal seminars, workshops, and international conferences

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with the goal to finish a PhD within 3 years. 

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Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree in animal science, biology, or a cand.med.vet. (veterinary) degree. Overall, an ethology profile needs to be present in the education, and preferably with a master thesis in ethology. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description .
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.

Required Academic qualifications

• A completed master’s degree that meets the admission requirements. Relevant academic backgrounds include animal or veterinary science, biology, preferably a master in ethology or with a behavioral profile in the education 
• Excellent written and oral English

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized:

• Documented experience of working with farm animals
• Comprehensive understanding and interest in ethology and animal welfare
• Experience with data handling and statistical methods
• Experience with behavioral observations and animal behavior analyses

You need to:

• Be able to work independently and systematically as well as be a good team worker
• Possess critical thinking skills
• Have a strong motivation to work within this field and to complete a PhD as well as conduct the practical tasks that follows
• Be structured, solution-oriented, and able to manage various tasks and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to present at international conferences and publish papers
• Have good  communicational and social skills

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD Fellow, and is remunerated with a starting annual salary of NOK 550,800.

Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.

For further information, please contact Prof. Inger Lise Andersen 

E-mail: inger-lise.andersen@nmbu.no, phone +47 90083226

Information for PhD applicants  and general information to applicants

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Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 08.05.2026

Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• Complete CV
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3) .
• Names and contact details for two references
• Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge and working experience

About The Faculty of Biosciences

The Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT) aims to shape the future of food and bioproduction through teaching and research in biology and sustainable production and use of plants, livestock and fish. The faculty has a large project portfolio and an annual turnover of approximately NOK 250 million. 

BIOVIT is organized into seven research groups: Genome Biology, Breeding, Genetics and Food Production Systems, Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology, Ethology and Animal Welfare, Nutrition and Physiology for Monogastric Animals, Plant Biology, Sustainable Food Systems and Integrated Plant Protection, and Genetics, Evolution and Sustainable Plant Production. Additionally, the faculty has seven research support and laboratory units.

BIOVIT is responsible for bachelor’s and master’s programs in aquaculture, biology, animal science, and plant science, as well as English-language master’s programs in Agroecology, Plant Sciences, Feed Manufacturing Technology, and Genome Sciences. BIOVIT also offers Ph.D. programs in animal science and plant science. Currently, the faculty has about 550 bachelor’s and master’s students and 90 Ph.D. students. BIOVIT employs approximately 230 staff members and has its own faculty administration.

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The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

NMBU skal bidra til å sikre fremtidens livsgrunnlag gjennom fremragende forskning, utdanning, formidling og innovasjon. Vi har landets mest fornøyde universitetsstudenter, som får forskningsbasert utdanning i et unikt studentmiljø. Våre kandidater får med seg høy kompetanse på tverrfaglig samarbeid og er populære i arbeidsmarkedet.

NMBU har internasjonalt ledende forskningsmiljøer innen flere fag. Sammen med våre partnere i samfunns- og næringslivet bidrar vi til å løse noen av de største samfunnsutfordringene i vår tid. Vi satser på innovasjon, formidling og entreprenørskap fordi vi mener disse utfordringene best løses med felles innsats.

Vi mener at et godt arbeidsmiljø preges av mangfold. Vi oppfordrer kvalifiserte kandidater til å søke uavhengig av kjønn, funksjonsevne, kulturell bakgrunn eller om du har vært utenfor arbeidslivet en periode. Vi vil legge arbeidsplassen til rette for personer med nedsatt funksjonsevne.

Nærmere opplysninger om NMBU finnes på www.nmbu.no

Questions about the position

Inger Lise Andersen

Professor

+47 90083226

inger-lise.andersen@nmbu.no

Apply for this job
Deadline

8th May 2026

Employer

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Municipality

Ås

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service
Universitetstunet 3, 1430 Ås

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