Background
CRRISP (Climate Resilient and Responsible Innovations in Potato) is an international project funded under the FOSC ERANET programme, with Teagasc funding originating from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM). With partners and collaborators in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Kenya, South Africa and Peru, CRRISP seeks to understand of the effect climate change will have on potato value chains and to develop mitigation steps from the perspectives of breeding, agronomy and socioeconomic adaptations (
https://www.foscera.net/en/foscera/projects/crrisp.htm )
This post will contribute to the breeding aspect of the project, which is a collaboration between Teagasc, the Kenyan Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the International Potato Centre (CIP). The breeding component of the project will develop a foundation breeding population in Kenya by crossing European varieties with favourable processing characteristics and disease resistance, with locally adapted lines suitable for sub-Saharan African (SSA) production systems, with the goal of producing germplasm for the future development of high value, sustainable potato varieties for the SSA environment.
Basic Function
The PD Fellow will be responsible for the development and application of genotyping tools on a foundation breeding population, and subsequent bioinformatics and statistical genomic analyses. Specifically, the PD Fellow will perform whole genome shotgun sequencing on parental genotypes, utilise standard bioinformatics tool identify polymorphisms for the design of a targeted genotyping-by sequencing platform (using an approach such as DArtTag or a similar platform). They will deploy the platform on the breeding population and carry out subsequent bioinformatics and statistical analyses related to marker assisted and genomic selection (MAS and GS). They will also work in the framework of the Teagasc/IPM Potato Group breeding programme to integrate the CRRISP project with the routine MAS pipeline in that programme. Whilst the task is based primarily at Oak Park Crops Research Centre in Carlow (Ireland), the PD Fellow will travel to Kenya to support the development of the breeding population and phenotyping resources, and to transfer the use of genomics technology to partners in KALRO. The successful candidate must be willing to spend periods of between four and six weeks per annum in Kenya (subject to the appropriate travel advisories and restrictions in place at the time).
Your postdoctoral status
This post is available only to applicants with less than 3 years post-Phd experience. This is a research focused training role, the primary purpose of which is to provide early career scientists with the opportunity to develop their research skills and competencies. The Teagasc post-doctoral programme provides training and development opportunities for early career scientists that enhances their experience of learning and equips them with the necessary skills for the next stage of their chosen career in research.
For further details about the role, and to apply, follow the link below.
