Doctoral fellow - Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine
Ghent University is one of the top 100 universities in the Dutch language area, with more than 44,000 students and 15,000 staff members.
Department DI08 - Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine
Degree Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine, Bioscience Engineering, or Biological Sciences, or an equivalent qualification, preferably with a focus on livestock
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
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
Would you like to contribute to improved animal welfare in pig farming while working with innovative technologies such as Precision Livestock Farming? This PhD research is part of the project “Optimizing the welfare of sows and piglets in free-farrowing pens using Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) tools.” It is a joint research project funded by the FWO between Ghent University (UGent) and ILVO (Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food).
The project has three main objectives:
Investigating the behavior of sows before and after farrowing, as well as the interactions and spatial needs of sows and piglets in relation to housing, management, and confinement strategies.
Developing and validating PLF tools for continuous monitoring of sow and piglet behavior on conventional and organic farms.
Evaluating targeted interventions in controlled experiments.
The research will generate new insights that contribute to more sustainable and animal‑friendly production systems and support the sector and policymakers in the transition to free‑farrowing systems. What will you do in practice? Within this project, your focus will be on in‑depth analysis of behavior, physiology, and space use during crucial stages such as farrowing, lactation, and weaning, as well as on testing interventions on commercial farms.
Collect data on the behavior and physiology of sows and piglets during farrowing, lactation, and weaning
Conduct research on both conventional and organic pig farms
Design and evaluate interventions to improve the welfare of sows and piglets before and after weaning
Write scientific publications and translate results into practical applications
Collaborate with UGent (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Porcine Health Management Unit) and ILVO‑ANIMAL and ILVO T&V within a broad interdisciplinary team
Currently, both partners are collaborating on a research project on piglet mortality (PIGLIFE), and in parallel, a VLAIO project is starting on the design and implementation of free-farrowing systems, including management optimization and economic evaluation (FREEFARROW).
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Interest in pig farming or livestock production
Interest in technical and management adjustments to improve the welfare and health of sows and piglets
Motivation to pursue a PhD
Knowledge of Dutch is highly recommended
Possession of a category B driving license (or willingness to obtain one in the short term)
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.
The contract starts on October 1, 2026.
You will join a strong research team with close collaboration between Ghent University (UGent) and ILVO.
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.
All Ghent University staff members enjoy several 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.
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