SAC is a Scottish organisation dedicated to innovation and the transfer of knowledge to the land basedindustries. Our 900 staff provide consultancy, research, education & training services to rural businesses and communities via a nation-wide network of around 40 business units.

Two PhD positions are available from September 2007 at the Department of Animal Genetics, National Institute of Agronomy Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France and the Sustainable Livestock Systems Research Group of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Edinburgh, UK
respectively.

A new large scale European project on improving the quality of pork and pork products for the consumer has begun in 2007. One module is dedicated to the integration of existing and upcoming data to produce a model for predicting technological and sensory pork quality, based on animal production and slaughter information. The main aim is to synthesise existing knowledge derived from studies across Europe and world wide to develop a novel model with demands. In close collaboration with the project partners (INRA, SAC and Danish Meat Research
Institute), the PhD students will carry out a literature review, develop a meta-data base and perform a quantitative meta-analysis in order to build a model that describes the relationships between animal, production and slaughter aspects and technological and sensory pork quality.

The model is expected to have far-reaching effects both on meat science and on the meat industry, leading to new insights and new scientific itineraries. Meta-analysis is principally based on classical statistical procedures (ANOVA/ANCOVA regression analysis), but with added complexity due to the multi-experimental approach.

Applicants should have a background either in statistics with an interest in animal science or in animal science with a sound knowledge in statistics. Some knowledge of data bases and the soft ware ‘R’would be welcome.

The SAC and INRA students are expected to collaborate closely throughout the project. This will be facilitated by enabling the INRA student to spend some time at SAC.

The successful candidates will join internationally highly rated multi disciplinary research teams of INRA and SAC, respectively. Both teams have a broad experience in meat sciences and modelling at both national and international levels.

The studentships last for 3 years. Gross starting salary will be €18370 (INRA) and £12,600 (SAC)
respectively. Only EU citizens can be considered for these studentships.

Applications:
INRA position: Letter describing background along with a current CV and contact details for two referees should be emailed to DR. Catherine Larzul (Catherine.larzul@jouy.inra.fr).

Please quote reference 52140024

SAC position: Application packs are available from Human Resources, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG. Tel: (0131) 535 4343 (answering machine), Fax: (0131) 535 4322, HumanResources@sac.co.uk or our website http://www.sac.ac.uk Please quote reference R&D/SLS/270/07.

Closing date: 25/05/07.

Further scientific information can also be obtained via email (INRA: Catherine.larzul@jouy.inra.fr,
SAC: andrea.wilson@sac.ac.uk and the Q-Porkchains project website http://www.q-porkchains.org/)