Research Fellow (KTP) in Data Analytics (Smart Agriculture)

Are you a graduate with a PhD (or close to completion) with substantial advanced statistical modelling, data analytics, or forecasting? Do you have experience developing analytical models in R, Matlab or Python? Are you keen to launch your career by managing a challenging project in industry?

We have an opportunity for you to fast-track your career in business by leading a high-profile, strategically important project from start to completion. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), you will be working in partnership with Karro Food Ltd., part of Karro Food Group Ltd, in conjunction with the Faculty of Biological Sciences to develop a future health and performance forecasting tool for pigs. By quantifying predictors of individual animal health and performance, the tool will use data from a multi-platform monitoring system and machine learning techniques.

Karro is a leading producer of pork products, supplying high-welfare meat products to retail, food service and manufacturing customers in the UK and abroad. The company is known for its high health and welfare standards for the animals on its farms. The aim of this project is to combine cutting edge monitoring technologies with advanced data analytics in order to optimise pig health, welfare and overall performance. You will help the partnership to achieve its strategic goals through the use of advanced data analytics to accurately forecast performance, health and disease throughout every pig’s life-course.    /

You will be an employee of the University of Leeds and will have full access to University facilities. You will have access to the University’s USS pension scheme, with generous employer contributions. You will be encouraged to base yourself part-time at the Karro Food Ltd company premises at Malton, North Yorkshire (and/or remotely, as per government guidance), working to Karro’s terms to enable you to gain additional skills and project-specific understanding of the operations and logistics of the company and production system. 

You may be required to undertake occasional UK-wide travel, and potentially international travel, in line with national travel restrictions in place. Members of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, the Animal Welfare Epidemiology laboratory, and the University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health will provide academic and technical support to you throughout the project.

You will have access to a training and development package worth £4,300, to be spent according to your needs and the project’s requirements, enabling you to work effectively on your KTP project and to plan for your future career. You will also attend two weeks of residential KTP training to equip you with the skills and knowledge required to complete the project successfully, for which time is allocated and funding provided.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Professor Lisa Collins, Professor of Animal Science, University of Leeds

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 5940

Email: l.collins@leeds.ac.uk 

Application 

As you go through your online application, you will be required to address all of the points listed under the ‘What will you bring to the role’ section, exemplifying how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the criteria. This will act as the supporting statement in your application for this role. 

In addition, please also include your current CV including a list of your publications.

Please note: If you are not a British or Irish citizen, from 1 January 2021 you will require permission to work in the UK. This will normally be in the form of a visa but, if you are an EEA/Swiss citizen and resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, this may be your passport or status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Due to the current Government Coronavirus guidance and social distancing measures, the interviews for this role are likely to be conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams or Zoom.