MEngSc Research Fellowship Opportunity in Process and Chemical Engineering

MEngSc Research Fellowship Opportunity in Process and Chemical Engineering

This MEngSc represents part of a multi-disciplinary project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), entitled “Duckweed as a novel, sustainable source of protein for Ireland” (“Duck-Feed” for short). The project is led by UCC (Professor Marcel Jansen, BEES, with input from Process and Chemical Engineering and from the School of Microbiology), and also involves partners at Teagasc, TU Dublin and Devenish Ltd.

There is a pressing need to identify novel, sustainable sources of protein, to use in feed, food and other applications. Internationally, there has been strong interest in the development of Lemnaceae (Duckweed sp.) biomass as a source of plant protein, and as a replacement of soybean in feeds. Rapid growth, high protein content and a desirable amino acid profile are amongst the key features that make duckweed species promising candidates as a native protein source for Ireland. Trials by UCC staff, under overall project Principal Investigator Prof. Marcel Jansen of BEES have shown potential annual yields in excess of 30 tonne dry matter per hectare, with >30% protein, and this was achieved under far from optimal conditions.

High tech, commercial exploitation of duckweed as an aquatic crop is established in, amongst others, the USA and Israel, while also being part of traditional farming methods in SE Asia. To develop duckweed as a sustainable protein source for Ireland, the project team have developed the integrated, multidisciplinary Duck-Feed project that focusses on all key bottlenecks of growth, processing, use and public acceptance, that need addressing to integrate this crop in Irish-farming.

The key objectives of the “Duck-Feed” project are to develop improved, small scale outdoor cultivation systems, develop Lemna growth on farm waste-streams, optimise protein extraction technology, assess feed quality, economic and environmental viability, and public acceptance of duckweed as a native, protein-rich feedstock. Thus, the overarching aim of “Duck-Feed” is to develop the pre- requisite expertise and experience to facilitate a roll out of duckweed cultivation in Ireland, and this will involve close interactions with the agri-industry.

For further particulars on this studentship please refer to: https://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacancies/research/full-details-1539741-en.html