Researcher in Animal Welfare - CFM 2481

View Vacancy -- Researcher in Animal Welfare - CFM 2481

Open Date

12/09/2024, 11:00

Close Date

13/10/2024, 23:55

Research Institute

MRC Centre for Macaques

Research Institute / Unit Information

The Medical Research Council Centre for Macaques is a primate breeding unit established in 2003 to house and breed rhesus macaques, funded by the MRC with support from the Wellcome Trust, and Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Non-human primates continue to be used in some areas of research where there are no alternative approaches. Macaques are non-human primates which have similarities to humans in their vision, central nervous system and immunology and reproductive system. The monkeys are used in basic and applied research within the academic sector in the UK, funded by the major grant-giving bodies. The unit houses about 250 animals including breeding stock and youngsters. The breeding programme is planned so that supply and demand are matched, to prevent in-breeding and to ensure there is no need to import animals.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

Band

MRC - 4

Location

Salisbury

Salary

£39,375 - £41,843 per annum, dependent on skills and experience

Contract Type

Fixed Term

Job Type

Science

Full Time / Part Time

Full Time

Contract Length

Three years

Job Description

Overall Purpose:

The Centre for Macaques (CFM) at Porton Down, Salisbury is a primate breeding facility funded by both the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust to ensure the availability and supply of rhesus macaques to UK academia. It is located on a high security site near Salisbury managed by the Ministry of Defence. The CFM breeds, trains and supplies high-quality, suitable animals and animal tissues to the UK research community.

A recent review of the CFM highlighted the world-leading work carried out by the CFM in video analysis of primate behaviour. As part of the review, it was recommended that this post be created to prepare and annotate a macaque dataset for use in artificial intelligence (AI) model development and analysis. The dataset will provide multiple opportunities for AI researchers to investigate a range of challenges in individual identification, range of postures, social behaviours and movement through complex enriched enclosures. The CFM is uniquely placed to develop this dataset as it houses multiple groups of macaques in similar but not identical pens, allowing comparisons to be made across groups. This dataset will be shared with AI researchers within and outside UKRI. The dataset will also be shared with primate welfare researchers to develop and validate new welfare measures for macaques.

The post-holder will be leading the project to create this new dataset. The dataset will consist of annotated video data, additional validated welfare measures and life history information for the groups. The post-holder will carry out quality control checks on existing video data from the CFM, annotate the videos for identification of animals and behaviour, and collect new videos and welfare measures. As part of their role, they will liaise with other primate centres and primate researchers to develop a robust ethogram for macaque behaviour to be annotated, and to select the most suitable welfare metrics for macaques.

Main Duties/Key Responsibilities:

The post-holder will:

• Create a new dataset of primate welfare and behaviour measures that can be shared with other researchers
• Carry out systematic reviews of macaque behaviour and welfare measures and select the best measures to collect for the new dataset
• Collect the new welfare measures and videos
• Annotate and analyse video data
• Prepare the new dataset for sharing with other researchers
• Present research and write journal articles
• Visit conferences and other primate centres

Working Relationships:
The post-holder will report to the Head of Scientific Programmes and will be based in the science team at the CFM.

Mary Lyon Centre

IT team

Data management team

External

Veterinary staff

Primate centres

Artificial intelligence researchers

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training Required:

Essential:

• PhD in an animal behaviour-related and/or animal welfare-related field, or equivalent experience

Desirable:

• PhD in primate or laboratory animal welfare

Previous Work Experience Required:

Essential:

• Experience in working with animals
• Experience in collecting animal behaviour data

Desirable:

• Experience in working with primates and/or laboratory animals

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

• Knowledge of animal welfare measures and how to collect them
• Expertise and skills in original research
• Expertise in data analysis using programming software (R, Python or MATLAB)
• Skills in paper-writing to disseminate research data and ideas
• Presentation skills in delivering talks and posters

Desirable:

• Expertise in setting up video cameras for high-quality data collection
• Skills in analysing and/or annotating video data
• Expertise, skills and knowledge in primate behaviour including the identification of individual animals within a group
• Awareness of systematic review process

Personal skills/Behaviours/Qualities:

Essential:

• Ability to manage time effectively
• Able to work as part of a team
• Good communication skills

Further Information

Equality & Diversity:

The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management.

Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements:

The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC's:

• Code of Conduct
• Equality and Diversity policy
• Health and Safety policy
• Data Protection and Security policy

The above lists are not exhaustive, and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.

Additional Information:

The post-holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting (Disclosure and Barring Service) required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

In addition, this post also attracts a National Security Vetting clearance and so there are further eligibility requirements. For additional details see: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/united-kingdom-security-vetting .

To meet national security vetting requirements for this role, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least five years prior to the date of application.

You may still be considered if, for example:

• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• You were studying abroad
• You were living overseas with a parent

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.