Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering

Applications are invited for a temporary post Until 30 April 2025 of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 within UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering.

This position is for a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in life cycle assessment (LCA) for the BioCrop project. Crop production is dependent on manufactured fertilisers and pesticides/fungicides. Biocrop is exploring the possibility of utilising biobased products and innovations as viable alternatives while addressing the sustainability and environmental impacts of these, such as GHG emissions. Biocrop aims to produce new algal and fungal derived biopesticides and biostimulants while engaging with industry and collaborators to test existing biofertilisers (algal and bacterial based) and biostimulants (endophytes) for efficacy. The existing products will be compared to fossil fertiliser applications and the ability to control disease (focussed on aphid -borne disease and Ramularia Leaf Spot, RLS) in Barley in field trials assessed.

This Post-doctoral Research Fellow role will focus on the use of life-cycle analysis to deliver a system-level life cycle analysis of Biobased fertilisers and pesticides considering impacts across the full life cycle to avoid `burden shifting' from one environmental impact to another. This analysis will assess the use of biobased products in an integrated management approach.

BioCrop is a collaboration between University College Dublin, Teagasc, Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway. There will be a specific focus on interacting with project partners, during all stages of the project to best understand the BioCrop biopesticides and biostimulants. Post-doctoral Research Fellow can be based at the UCD Belfield campus.

This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator. The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

Salary: 41,209 - 43,699 per annum

Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 17th February 2023.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications. UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/