Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Stir; Stirling; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Stirling, within the Institute of Aquaculture, seeks a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to work on an Innovate UK AgriScale project on AI camera analytics for welfare and harvest management in aquaculture.

The postholder will lead development of welfare indicators from video, coordinate recording campaigns and assist in training and evaluating AI models with the project team, including field deployments at commercial sites.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal behaviour research, ideally in aquatic species.
• Practical skills in video-based behavioural analysis.
• Experience applying machine learning methods to biological data.

Responsibilities

• Engage in individual and collaborative research delivering project objectives and publish results.
• Design and conduct welfare-focused behavioural studies of target aquaculture species.
• Contribute to development and validation of AI/computer vision models for welfare assessment.
• Support validation and field testing of project technologies at commercial sites.
• Supervise or assist in training researchers and students where applicable.
• Engage with industry partners and co-create knowledge exchange opportunities.

Skills

Animal behaviour

Video analysis

ML for biology

Job description

The Post

The University of Stirling is seeking to appoint a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow within its world-leading Institute of Aquaculture to work on the Innovate UK AgriScale-funded project "AI Camera Analytics for Behaviour, Welfare and Harvest Management in Aquaculture." This appointment comes at an exciting time for individuals who want to help shape the development of novel welfare technologies alongside industry partners Ace Aquatec.

This post will validate a novel batch electrical stunner for Pacific whiteleg shrimp, rainbow trout and carp, developing camera-derived, AI-detectable welfare indicators of insensibility for use in commercial field trials. The work package also includes a linked biomass-camera study in farmed Atlantic salmon, testing underwater camera configurations for AI detection of sea lice, wounds and individual fish identification via skin/spot pattern.

The postholder will lead the development of behavioural welfare indicators from video footage, coordinate laboratory recording campaigns and human annotation of welfare states, and work closely with Ace Aquatec's engineering team to specify, train and evaluate AI/computer vision models. The role includes overseeing field deployments with UK aquaculture producers and supporting the associated salmon camera-testing study on sea lice, wounds and individual ID.

The successful applicant should demonstrate experience in animal behaviour research, ideally in aquatic species, together with practical skills in video-based behavioural analysis and/or applying computer vision or machine learning methods to biological data. Applicants should have good working knowledge of experimental design for welfare science and an interest in translating research into deployable technology for commercial aquaculture settings.

The IoA is contributing to positioning the University of Stirling as a global leader in providing transformative solutions for the sustainable expansion of the aquaculture sector, improving fish and shrimp welfare through precision technology and humane slaughter methods. This research contributes to this goal and to wider goals such as UN SDG 14, Life Below Water. Research on humane stunning, welfare assessment and non-invasive monitoring technologies across a range of innovative systems is critical to achieving these aims.

The post holder will be expected to contribute to the delivery of internationally excellent publications and to co-create a strong research culture, including supporting the training of research staff and students engaged in related welfare and aquaculture technology projects.

For informal enquiries about this post, please contact Dr Adam Brooker - [e-mail]

Description of Duties

Research

• Engage in individual and collaborative research as part of a team, delivering directly to the project objectives, and disseminate results through publication in high-impact journals and conference proceedings
• Design and conduct welfare-focused behavioural studies of target aquaculture species, including video-based data collection, annotation and analysis
• Contribute to the development and validation of AI/computer vision models for automated welfare assessment, working closely with the wider project team
• Support the validation and field testing of project technologies at commercial aquaculture sites
• Continually update knowledge, skills and understanding in the field or specialism
• Conduct literature and database searches, and contribute to the design of studies and analysis protocols
• Engage with the project team at Stirling and across industry partners, and contribute to collaborative decision-making in areas of research

Supervision and Training Support

• Contribute to the supervision of research students where aligned with project activities, assisting in the development of student research skills and providing direction, support and guidance
• Contribute to introductory training on research methods and analysis used within the project
• Support the assessment of student work and supervision of related projects

Communication, Networking and Outreach

• Communicate research findings and technical information clearly, orally, in writing and electronically, including through reports and publications
• Liaise with colleagues, students and industry partners
• Build internal and external networks to support knowledge exchange and future collaboration and funding opportunities
• Participate in the Faculty's engagement activities as required
• Participate in the administrative processes of the Division/Faculty/University
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post