[Postdoc] Prediction of lambing using video data

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITE D'ORLEANS Research Field Engineering » Systems engineering Technology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 17 Apr 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37h30 Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Lambing is a key stage in the management of sheep farming, but it is also one of the most cri-tical periods. Farmers must deal with high mortality rates, whether among lambs or ewes, dueto complications during the lambing process, insufficient monitoring, or delayed interventions.These losses have a significant impact on farm profitability and also raise important animal wel-fare concerns.In this context, the Num’Agnel project fits into a dynamic of technological innovation aimed at sup-porting farmers by alerting them of imminent lambing events. Its objective is to provide a reliablepredictive system based on sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms, capable of warning far-mers in order to enable early and appropriate interventions.The proposed solution relies on the use of several complementary technologies :

• Cameras : to analyze the behavior of ewes.
• Accelerometers : to detect specific movements associated with the preparatory phases oflambing.
• Proximity sensors : to monitor interactions and changes in the animals’ positions.

Thanks to these tools, Num’Agnel aims to reduce uncertainty margins and ensure enhanced mo-nitoring, even in the physical absence of the farmer. This approach, based on artificial intelligence(particularly Deep Learning), will also make it possible to leverage the collected data to enrichknowledge of ovine behavior.

The candidate will join a dynamic research group within the Image/Vision team of the PRISME laboratory.The PRISME laboratory is a multidisciplinary research laboratory of the University of Orléans and INSA Centre Val de Loire, working in the general field of engineering sciences and technologies.”

Responsibilities

Within the Num’Agnel project, the Postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for developing andinvestigating innovative approaches for the detection of early signs of lambing using video data.

In particular, he/she will be expected to:

• Select and evaluate the most suitable approaches from the wide range of machine learningand computer vision methods available in the literature, with particular emphasis onapproaches that account for temporal dynamics and are compatible with real-time use.
• Analyze the results obtained and identify the limitations and robustness of the approachesused.
• Propose and investigate improvements and alternative methods.
• Disseminate and promote the research results through the preparation of scientific publi-cations and the production of an internal report.

Qualifications

• PhD in at least one of the following fields : Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Good knowledge of Linux tools and environment
• Autonomous and rigorous
• Curiosity and creative thinking
• Excellent ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Engineering

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

• Detailed CV
• Cover Letter
• Notables publications
• References (at least two)