Aarhus Universitets segl

Margit Bak Jensen

Professor

Profile photoMargit Bak Jensen
Professor
Institut for Husdyr- og Veterinærvidenskab - Sektionen for Adfærd, Stress og Dyrevelfærd
Blichers Allé 20
8863/K23, 3009
8830 Tjele
Danmark
E-mail: margitbak.jensen@anivet.au.dk
Telefon: +452236 5482
Web: http://pure.au.dk/portal/da/margitbak.jensen@anivet.au.dk
ORCHID: 0001-7982-582x

Education

1996: PhD in Ethology. Thesis “Behaviour and welfare of calves in relation to social contact, space and tethering”, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Denmark, Department of Animal Science and Animal Health.

1991: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

1990: Candidata Agronomiae (Cand. agro.) The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Denmark

Experience

1992: Consultant at the Danish Agricultural AdvisoryCentre, the National Committee on Danish Cattle Husbandry

1992-1996: Employed on a PhD grant, the Danish Research Academy
1996-1998: Research Scientist at the Danish Institute of AgriculturalSciences, Department of Animal Health and Welfare
1998-2006: Senior Research Scientist at the Danish Institute ofAgricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition
2007-2021: Senior Research Scientist at Aarhus University, Departmentof Animal Science
2021- : Professor at Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Sciences


Research

I have 128 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals, of which I am the first author of 46 and the senior author of 26. In Google Scholar, No. citation exceeds 8582 and H-factor is 47 (September 2023).

International scientific network and research collaborations includes Wageningen University, VetMedUni Vienna, Newcastle University, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, University of Helsinki, University of British Colombia, University of California, University of Prince Edward Island and Guelph University.

Since 2022, I chair a European Cost Action network entitled “Lifting farm animal lives – laying the foundations for positive animal welfare” (LIFT; CA21124), supported by COST (European cooperation in Science and Technology), and Funded by the European Union.


Research collaboration with companies includes Danish manufacturers of cattle and pig housing and Danish developers of Livestock Management Software solutions



Memberships

1992-: The International Society for Applied Ethology

2004-: The American Dairy Science Association

2017-: The Association for the Advanced study of Animal Behaviour

Leadership and Administration

Principal investigator/project leader on research grants from The Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Danish Cattle Levy Fund, GUDP (Green Development and Demonstration Programme) the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Regional Secretary, Nordic region of the International Society for Applied Ethology (2007-2009).
Editor and council member of the International Society for Applied Ethology (2013-2017).

Participation in scientific evaluation committees for positions at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU

Ad hoc referee for national research councils: FORMAS and The Research Council of Norway.

Ad hoc referee for international journals e.g. Livestock Science; Applied Animal Behaviour Science; Journal of Dairy Science; Animal Behaviour; Preventive Veterinary Medicine; Animal; Animal Welfare; Physiology and Behaviour; PlosOne.

Member of the EFSA (European Food and Safety Authority) working group on Welfare of calves 2020-2023

Member of the EFSA working group on Welfare of dairy cows 2021-2023

Teaching

“Animal Behaviour” (10 ECTS). MSc. education Agrobiology, Aarhus University (course responsible).
”Domestic animal behaviour and welfare” (5 ECTS). BSc. education Agrobiology, Aarhus University.
Animal Welfare Assessment in primary production” 60 ECTS course. MSc. degree. Aarhus University.

I have supervised 11 PhD and 19 MSc. students, and I have served in assessment committees of 15 PhD defences.

“Animal Behaviour” (10 ECTS). MSc. education Agrobiology, Aarhus University (course responsible).
”Domestic animal behaviour and welfare” (5 ECTS). BSc. education Agrobiology, Aarhus University.
Animal Welfare Assessment in primary production” 60 ECTS course. MSc. degree. Aarhus University.

I have supervised 11 Ph.D. and 19 MSc. students, and I have served in assessment committees of 15 PhD defences.

Innovation, Industry collaboration and Technology Transfer

Development of methods to measure behavioural needs and preferences using operant conditioning (AgResearch, New Zealand, University of Copenhagen, University of Kuopio, University of Bristol).
Criteria for occupational and rooting materials to meet exploratory needs of growing pigs (SEGES).
Guidelines for management of automated milk-feeders to ensure optimal calf-feeder interaction (SEGES, AgroTech A/S, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences).