Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate

Fixed term for 18 months

Salary: £36,000 - £40,320 (dependent on pension scheme membership) plus training package

KTP Associate position:

Keele University has been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with RAFT Solutions Ltd. Keele University is a world-class institution committed to providing the highest quality learning and living environment for students and researchers. The University is known for its interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education and research, consistently ranking among the top ten UK universities for student satisfaction.

About the Role:

This KTP Associate role offers graduates the opportunity to manage a significant project essential to RAFT Solutions Ltd.'s strategic development and long-term growth. The project will be supervised by Keele's School of Computer Science and Mathematics, supported by the Harper-Keele Veterinary School (HKVS) and the Institute of Sustainable Health and Animal Welfare (InSHAW). The School is renowned for its research in Artificial Intelligence, Human Centred Computing, Future Systems, and Theoretical Computer Science, complemented by Mathematics research in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, and Statistics.

RAFT Solutions Ltd., a bioscience SME based in Ripon, Yorkshire, was established in 2010 from veterinary ownership. It is an innovative, close-to-market sustainable food and bioscience research and development organization, bridging the gap between academia and industry to bring innovations to the veterinary, animal health, and genetics market.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design data-science systems for individual cow-level decision-support tools, leveraging machine learning and precision livestock farming (PLF) sensor data.
• Develop herd-level population decision support tools using machine learning and population-modelling techniques. Address needs in Preventative Treatment, Nutritional, Environmental, and Process-based herd challenges.
• Create data science tools for long-term welfare tracking using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) system.
• Apply data modelling to deploy PLF data into practical engineering design systems.
• Propose and develop communication systems internally and externally, ensuring effective use of strategic intent underpinned by a trustworthy evidence base.

Qualifications and Experience:

The successful candidate will hold a minimum of a master’s degree in applied computer science or a similar field, awarded within the last five years. They should have working knowledge and experience in:

• Systematic review and analysis tools
• Systems theory and quantitative methods
• Machine learning and related techniques
• Project management

Knowledge of Agritech and precision livestock farming (PLF) would be beneficial but is not essential. The role requires the ability to apply data science methodologies to improve the strategic and targeted use of data collected in the farming sector, enhancing animal welfare and optimizing outputs sustainably.

Company Background:

RAFT Solutions Ltd. aims to make better use of farming data to provide custom-made solutions focused on animal welfare and optimized protein (meat, milk) production. While the company has the technology and links to collect data, it needs expertise in applying data science methodologies to make more intelligent decisions from multiple and varied data sources.

Location and Support:

The KTP Associate will be based at RAFT Solutions Ltd. in Ripon, North Yorkshire. They will receive close supervision and direction from senior colleagues, along with academic and pastoral support from Keele University, including specific training, career counselling, and mentoring.

Contact:

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Theocharis Kyriacou, Reader in Computer Science, at t.kyriacou@keele.ac.uk.

Interview Date: 24/07/2024 

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