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Animal Sciences

The programme:

The overall aims of the research education programme Animal Science are to deliver a strong and advanced research education in the field of animal science with special focus on animal health, welfare and nutrition. The research education programme works for a high quality in the PhD education with a view to attracting competent students. We aim to do this by developing relevant and attractive courses and through effective, competent and inspiring supervision. Animal Science works in a problem-oriented way through disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary cooperation. The research education programme focuses on the future international dimension of the research education. The research education programme covers three thematic areas:

  • Animal health
  • Animal welfare
  • Animal nutrition

The scientific core areas of Animal Science are nutrition, microbial gut ecology, different aspects of physiology, ethology, immunology, disease mechanisms and disease prevention as well as management and decision support in livestock farming. Further, the research comprises animal models for studying nutrient turnover and utilization, disease complexes and reproduction of importance to human nutrition and health.

Across the thematic areas Animal Science has a strong focus on organic livestock production. Further SOAR - an interinstitutional and international network for PhD courses and projects in organic agriculture is hosted by the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

Research facilities available:

Through the affiliation to the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ANIVET) the following animal research facilities are available:

  • Surgery rooms
  • Intensive care facilities including respiration chamber (small animals) laboratory
  • Laboratory animal facility
  • Infection barn facility
  • Poultry facilities
  • Swine facilities
  • Cattle facilities 
  • Horse facilities
  • Organic livestock facility

Through the affiliation to the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ANIVET) and its researchers there will be access to unique and modern laboratory facilities:

  • Metabolome platform
  • Physiology platform
  • Cell and reproductive biology platform
  • Nutrition and animal feed platform
  • Immunology and microbiology platform

Geographic location:

The PhD student will typically be located at AU Viborg - Research centre Foulum near where all the research is conducted. PhD students must expect to be involved in BSc and MSC teaching which takes place in Aarhus.

 

Head of Programme

Local Programme Secretary

12573 / i43