M3-BIORES, the former Laboratory for Agricultural Buildings Research belongs to the KU Leuven, is one of the biggest scientific groups worldwide working in the field of integration of biological responses in the monitoring and control of living organisms (humans, animals, plants).

Due to a growing world population with corresponding increasing need for food and changing habits in the diet of many people, modern agricultural technology is facing tremendous challenges. The worldwide demand for animal products will increase with 40 % in the next 15 years. At the same time animal production is facing serious challenges such as animal health, animal welfare and sustainability.

KU Leuven M3-BIORES has started the research in Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) in 1991 and has become a worldwide leading group in this field and by developing several concepts and techniques for real time monitoring of individual animals.

The candidate in the proposed postdoc position will focus his/her research on the development of sustainable engineering technology for optimising production processes in intensive livestock farming.  The aim is to monitor animals continuously in a fully automated way by applying image and sound analyses, sensors and real time algorithms for monitoring and management of livestock.

The research should focus on fundamental knowledge as a basis for new developments in PLF and on the development of new concepts based on biological knowledge in combination with the upcoming new technology. Consequently, the research focus is very complementary to fields such as animal physiology, immunology, genetics and ethology, but also to engineering practices such as data analysis, dynamic modelling and real time control.

The candidate is asked to pay attention to the translation and valorisation of basic knowledge of Precision Livestock Farming with the objective to contribute to the scientific knowledge and with the final aim to help solving the world#s food problem.

The candidate is expected to be active in PLF and to further develop a research line on this topic within the division M3-BIORES, Department Biosystems at KU Leuven (www.m3-biores.be)