PhD Scholarship in Microbial Safety of Organic Waste Spread on Land; Microbiology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for full-time funded PhD scholarship starting in March 2023 affiliated to Microbiology at the University of Galway and Teagasc.
University of Galway:
Located in the vibrant cultural city of Galway in the west of Ireland, with over 18,000 students and more than 2,400 staff, the University of Galway has a distinguished reputation for teaching and research excellence. The successful candidate will undertake training and research on Assuring the Microbial Safety of Organic Waste Spread on Land
Teagasc:
Teagasc is a development agency of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which supports science-based innovation in the agri-food sector and the broader bioeconomy. The programme in food safety aims to provide the science to underpin a total chain risk based approach to manage food safety in the “farm to fork” food chain using a One Health approach. In the area of microbiology there is an extensive research programme and expertise on foodborne pathogens and soil and environmental microbiology.
Brief Project Description: This project will investigate the fate of zoonotic pathogens together with microbial community shifts during organic waste treatment and following application on land.
Detailed Project Description: This project, funded by the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine, will form part of a group of PhD projects to identify, quantify and develop mitigation strategies to control microbial and chemical hazards in animal waste and wastewater treatment sludge. As part of this project field and lab-based studies will be undertaken monitoring zoonotic pathogen behaviour and microbial community shifts using culture dependent and independent technologies during organic waste treatment and following application on land.
This will inform farmers, regulators and other relevant stakeholders about the bacterial hazards in wastes intended for land spreading in Ireland, as well as best practice and policy for their control. The PhD student will be primarily be based in Teagasc, Ashtown, but will also have the opportunity to spend time at Teagasc Environmental Research Centre, Johnstown Castle and University of Galway.
Living allowance (Stipend): €18,000 per annum, [tax-exempt scholarship award]
University fees: €6,000
Start date: 01/03/23
Academic Entry Requirements: Honours degree in microbiology, molecular biology or related discipline is required. The normal academic qualification expected for a PhD studentship is an Upper Second Class (Hons) Degree (2H1 or equivalent) at minimum. All applications should be accompanied with copies of degree transcripts (translated into English) for the Graduate Studies Office to make a decision on academic eligibility.
To Apply for the Scholarship: Please send CV and cover letter, or queries, to kaye.burgess@teagasc.ie and florence.abram@universityofgalway.ie Contact Name: Teagasc supervisors: Dr Kaye Burgess, Teagasc Ashtown and Dr Fiona Brennan, Teagasc Johnstown Castle; Academic supervisor: Dr Florence Abram, University of Galway
Contact Email: kaye.burgess@teagasc.ie and florence.abram@universityofgalway.ie
Application Deadline: March 01, 2023