Research Technician - Poultry Handling

The role

We are seeking to appoint a Research Technician to support work on a Defra funded project examining the welfare of commercial poultry during the catching and handling process.

This exciting project will compare the use of two different methods of catching and handling commercial poultry during loading for transport. The project will involve the collection of behavioural data and other measures of welfare, alongside process data, to examine the impact of each catching method on bird welfare and the efficiency of the catching process. Real time observations will be used to collect data during real commercial catching events.

The Research Technician will be based in the Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group at Bristol Veterinary School. They will work alongside a post-doctoral research associate, also to be hired. Responsibilities include supporting data collection activities on-farm, helping to organise and prepare equipment for farm visits, and ensuring that research activities are compliant with relevant Health and Safety and other legislative or policy requirements. The technician will provide research support, carrying out behavioural observations and other data collection on farm.

The start date will be January 2026 and there is funding in place for the position 3 days per week until September 2027, with the possibility of a nine-month extension, depending on funding availability.

What will you be doing?

You will provide research support to a Research associate. You will primarily assist in the organisation of farm visits, and the collection and recording of behavioural data during those visits. Note that data collection will take place during poultry catching and handling events; the timing of these events will be outside of our control, and will often be outside of normal working hours. As a result data collection will require working some unsociable hours. You will also be expected to comply with biosecurity protocols, as well as health and safety requirements, contributing to risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with all relevant guidelines.

You should apply if

You have:

• Experience in observation and recording of animal behaviour.
• Experience in collating scientific data for analysis.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to deal with and prioritise a range of ongoing tasks at the same time, and to be able to cope under pressure.
• Excellent IT skills, and an ability to effectively use new software or IT systems when required.
• Ability to carry out data collection and collation protocols accurately and quickly, and contribute to process improvement.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision towards pre-defined goals.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended (fixed funding Jan 2026 – Sep 2027)

Work pattern: 21 hours per week

Shift pattern: Part time (3 days per week; 7 hours each day)

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 03/02/2026

For any informal queries please contact Sarah Lambton. Senior Lecturer in Livestock Welfare and Innovation via email: Sarah.Lambton@bristol.ac.uk

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