The overall aims of the research education programme Animal Science are to deliver a strong and advanced research education in the field of animal science with special focus on animal health, welfare and nutrition. The research education programme works for a high quality in the PhD education with a view to attracting competent students. We aim to do this by developing relevant and attractive courses and through effective, competent and inspiring supervision. Animal Science works in a problem-oriented way through disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary cooperation. The research education programme focuses on the future international dimension of the research education. The research education programme covers three thematic areas: Animal health Animal welfare Animal nutrition The scientific core areas of Animal Science are nutrition, microbial gut ecology, different aspects of physiology, ethology, immunology, disease mechanisms and disease prevention as well as management and decision support in livestock farming. Further, the research comprises animal models for studying nutrient turnover and utilisation, disease complexes and reproduction of importance to human nutrition and health. Across the thematic areas Animal Science has a strong focus on organic livestock production. Further SOAR - an inter-institutional and international network for PhD courses and projects in organic agriculture is hosted by the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.