POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES / ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

13 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University College Cork

Department

HR Research

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Soil science

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Ireland

Application Deadline

7 Jun 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Dublin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

39

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Position Summary

Basic Function:

The primary role of this Post-Doctoral Researcher position it to manage agronomic and nitrous oxide emissions in field trials within the ‘Soils’ work package of the Farm Zero C Project.

Specific tasks will include the measurement of herbage, dry matter yield & botanical composition, biological N fixation, nitrous oxide emissions and soil microbial community dynamics within perennial ryegrass clover based temperate grasslands. This research will be primarily based in UCC Agricultural Science’s new Sustainable Grassland Research site at Curraheen, Co. Cork but will also include on-farm data collection and field work at the collaborating research partner sites (Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy). The successful candidate will organise the daily operations of the project work package and will assist the Principal Investigator in collating reports and arranging project meetings. They will take the lead in data analysis and in writing progress reports, presentation and publication of scientific/technical papers.

Background:

BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre is a national collaboration of over 100+ researchers, focused on the development of a sustainable circular bioeconomy. Farm Zero C (FZC) is a flagship project within BiOrbic. Farm Zero C is a collaboration between the BiOrbic SFI centre, Carbery and others to address the challenge of carbon neutral farming. The project is anchored out of the FZC farm in Shinagh, Bandon, Co. Cork. This farm is adopting the most recent emerging technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the health and resilience of the farm. The ‘Soils’ work package of the project will investigate alternatives to chemical fertilisers for pasture-based systems. This project is set in the context that agriculture is the largest contributor to national greenhouse gas (38%), ammonia emissions (99%) and nitrogen entering waterways (80%; rivers, estuaries, lakes, ground water). Based on current trajectories, Irish agriculture, and ultimately Ireland, will fail to meet its GHG and ammonia emissions and water quality targets under the ‘Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021’, ‘National Emission reduction Commitments Directive’, and European Water Framework Directive, respectively. At the same time, the Food Vision 2030 and Origin Green initiatives aim to simultaneously increase agricultural production, whilst also reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability of the food produced. The investigation of strategies to reduce our reliance on chemical fertilisers, within this task, directly responds to these significant and imminent challenges.

UCC provides numerous training opportunities for Post-Doctoral Researchers. In addition, the Post-Doctoral position will, while working in conjunction with senior research staff, gain insight and experience into a variety of areas including the processes of project and budgetary management, publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals, writing grant applications, and attracting external funding; the development of active collaboration with relevant national and international research communities; the development of communication and presentation skills, leadership and management skills, and overall career development.

Project Title: Farm Zero C- Alternatives to chemical fertilisers for pasture-based systems.

Requirements

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Soil science

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Key Duties and Responsibilities

This position will apply to newly qualified Post-Doctoral Researchers and will be considered as a period of training as the researcher will have dual goals in terms of the research project and their own career development.  The researcher will be mentored by a Principal Investigator (PI).  It is expected that a researcher would spend not more than 3 years at the Post Doctoral level, subject to the term of the project and would then be eligible to compete for a Senior Post Doctoral post advertised by the University.

The primary focus of the Postdoctoral Researcher will be research however a particular emphasis during this stage should include;

• To conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator/Project Leader.
• To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, School or College in order to develop research skills and competencies.
• To gain experience in grant writing.
• To engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of a Principal Investigator.
• To become familiar with the publication process.
• To acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
• To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or College.
• To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• To carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
• To carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
• To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project.
• Conduct experiments to quantify herbage yield, botanical composition, biological N fixation and nitrous oxide emissions associated with grass/clover swards as influenced by different slurry processing technologies, bio-stimulants and bio-based fertilizers.
• Operate laboratory analysis to measure soil chemical and biological status within different experimental treatments.
• Data analysis of herbage yield, botanical composition, biological N fixation and nitrous oxide emissions associated with different experimental treatments.
• Operate and maintain gaseous emissions and herbage yield sampling equipment in good condition and co-ordinate relevant laboratory analysis/experiments.
• Assist in coordination of the research team.

Specific Requirements

The successful candidate will provide a cover letter with evidence for how they meet the following essential criteria:

• PhD in agriculture, environmental science, or another appropriate science-related discipline.
• Appropriate research experience.
• Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
• A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
• Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
• A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.
• Ability to work well within a team.
• Understanding of nitrogen cycling, gaseous emissions, agronomy of perennial ryegrass/clover based temperate grasslands.
• Understanding of soil micro-biology relevant to temperate grasslands.
• Demonstrated research and technical experience of conducting field plot experiments to measure grassland productivity and biological N fixation.
• Demonstrated research and technical expertise in measuring agricultural gaseous emissions, particularly nitrous oxide.
• Laboratory experience relevant to soil and herbage analysis.
• Evidence of research activity (publications, conference presentations, awards) and future scholarly output (working papers, research proposals etc.)
• Experience of statistical analysis and data management.
• Laboratory and field quality assurance & data quality control.
• Excellent project management, analytical, report writing and data analysis skills.
• An ability to collaborate with team members and PhD students to help build research knowledge and skill and to guide professional development.
• As travel between Office/Lab and Research Field sites is necessary for this role a full driver’s licence is required.

Desirable but not essential criteria;

• Experience of 15N isotopes
• Experience of soil DNA extractions and microbial community analysis
• Experience of slurry processing technologies and manure nitrogen fertiliser replacement values (NFRV)
• Experience in setting own research agenda
• Evidence of teamwork and collaboration with relevant partners

Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Languages

ENGLISH

Research Field

Agricultural sciences » Soil science

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University College Cork

Country

Ireland

State/Province

Cork

City

Cork

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://ore.ucc.ie/

Contact

City

Cork

Website

http://www.ucc.ie/en/

Street

Western Road

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED