Research Associate position in animal husbandry dairy calf management and calf health

The position is part of the externally funded project “Healthy calves – the basis of dairy farming: optimizing management through benchmarking and best-practice examples” and is limited until 30.06.2029 at the Chair of Animal Husbandry, Behaviour and Welfare, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management. The salary is in accordance with the collective labour agreement of the State of Hessen (E 13 TV-H).

Your tasks at a glance

•    Contribute to the aim of the project, in close cooperation between agriculture, consultancy and science to develop strategies for an optimized management of calves which contribute to improving calf health and reducing calf mortality
•    Recruitment of participating dairy farms
•    Practical data collection on the dairy farms
•    Statistical analysis, scientific preparation and publication of the data obtained in the project
•    Preparation of reports with recommended actions for farmers
•    Supporting project partners in the app-development for recording calf health
•    Participation in project management
•    Preparation of and participation in project meetings and project events (among others experience group meetings with participating farmers; internal project meetings)

Your qualifications and competences

•    Completed Master´s or equivalent university degree in the field of veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences, biology or related subjects with focus on livestock sciences
•    Experience in handling cattle or other livestock
•    Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, particularly regarding communication with practicing farmers
•    Good German skills
•    Good English skills will be of advantage
•    Driver’s license category B and willingness to undertake business trips to the participating farms, which partly could span several days
•    Basic knowledge in using statistical software (e.g. R, SAS), or willingness to familiarise oneself with these tasks
•    High degree of self-organisation
•    Ability to work scientifically, proven e.g. through scientific publications and/or an above-average university degree

Our offer to you

•    Participation in a motivated team with a friendly working atmosphere
•    A varied job with flexible working hours 
•    Free use of local public transport (LandesTicket Hessen)
•    More than 100 training seminars, workshops and e-learning opportunities per year for personal development, as well as a wide range of health and sports activities 
•    Remuneration according to TV-H, company pension scheme, child allowance and special payments 
•    Good compatibility of family and career (certificate “audit familiengerechte hochschule”)

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Dr. Uta König von Borstel by e-mail (uta.koenig@agrar.uni-giessen.de).

JLU welcomes qualified applications regardless of biological and social gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, age as well as sexual orientation and identity. The JLU aims for a higher proportion of women in accordance with the women’s promotion plan. We therefore particularly encourage qualified female candidates to apply. JLU is certified as a family-friendly university. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.

You want to break new ground with us?
Apply via our online form by June 4th, 2026, indicating reference number 230/09. We look forward to receiving your application.