Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary research project on data-driven animal nutrition. The candidate will investigate how nutritional, production, and environmental data from an animal production system (pig in this case) can be integrated into a digital twin that accurately capture nutrient requirements, production efficiency, and environmental impacts. The research will involve collecting and structuring large and heterogeneous datasets, developing time-series representations of farm inputs and outputs, and applying data-driven modelling techniques to identify inefficiencies in nutrient use. The PhD project will also explore optimization approaches for feed formulation that simultaneously balance animal performance, feed cost, and sustainability objectives. Throughout the project, the candidate will work closely with animal nutritionists, data scientists, and industry stakeholders, ensuring that the developed models are both scientifically robust and practically relevant. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a highly relevant field at the interface of animal production, sustainability, and data science. The ultimate goal of this PhD trajectory is the successful completion and defense of a doctoral degree in Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You have experience with scientific computing (Python, R, Julia, ...).
• You demonstrate a keen interest in scientific research.
• You have knowledge of the field of terrestrial animal production.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Your English is fluent, both speaking and writing.
• You have a mindset to efficiently learn and grow in a field, and have openness to interdisciplinary collaboration.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on 01/12/2025 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

INTERESTED?

Send your CV, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to jerdgroo.degroote@ugent.be. We do not accept late applications.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Jeroen Degroote (jerdgroo.degroote@UGent.be, +32(0)9/264 90 00) and/or prof. Jan Verwaeren jan.verwaeren@UGent.be +32 09/264 59 33).