Scientific Strategist – Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare
Location: Remote, with occasional travel; Chicago preferred
Compensation: $70k-$120K+, commensurate with skill and experience
Commitment: Full-time
Timeline: Apply ASAP; assessed on rolling basis
About the Role
Translate your knowledge of animal behavior and affective states into real-world impact.
We partner with industrial selective breeding programs to improve animal health and welfare. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientist to coordinate with animal welfare scientists, ethologists, and agricultural breeders. Together with these collaborators, you will select, adapt, and develop reliable assays for studying behavior and assessing affective states in animals, starting with chickens and shrimp.
In this role, you will draw on the research on animal behavior and affective states. You either have a developed understanding of the limitations and nuances of many behavioral assays (e.g., conditioned place preference), or can quickly assimilate the relevant literature and verify your conclusion via correspondence with relevant experts.
We are looking for someone capable of proactive decision-making, who can work with diverse stakeholders to weigh complex tradeoffs in a transparent and systematic way. You will play a crucial role in improving the health and welfare of numerous animals.
Key Responsibilities
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Synthesize and design ways to accurately determine affective states in animals.
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Lead discussions between experts, collaborators, and other stakeholders.
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Develop and maintain partnerships with academic and industry partners.
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Make evidence-backed recommendations for appropriate behavioral assays.
Qualifications
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Proactive, entrepreneurial, and self-starter attitude.
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Experience leading and coordinating teams.
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MSc or PhD preferred, but other relevant academic and/or industry experience in animal behavior, ethology, behavioral or affective neuroscience, animal welfare science, or a related discipline will be considered.
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Ability to evaluate the tradeoffs between different behavioral assays for welfare (e.g., conditioned place preference, gait scoring in poultry).
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Familiar with industrial conditions in selectively-bred farmed animals, especially shrimp or chickens.
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Comfortable driving progress on topics with incomplete or evolving evidence.
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Scientific integrity, openness to occasional travel, and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, ideally in a leadership role.
We strongly encourage people of every race, color, orientation, age, gender, national origin, disability status, veteran status and background to apply. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can feel part of our team and is supported to deliver their best work. We do not expect any candidate to meet all the criteria. If you need any adjustments to take part in our hiring process, please let us know!