Duration: Externally Funded Non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 8 months. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.
Location: Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, P61 C997
Basic Function:
The VistaMilk project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, seeks to recruit a postdoctoral candidate in the analysis of soil moisture status. The successful candidate will play a key role in defining the management implications of soil moisture dynamics at farm scale, which offers challenges to standard farm management practices and results in increased volatility, which impose significant stresses on a farm system. They will determine specific applications, which would help to improve decision making to safeguard soil health, while optimising fertilizer applications and crop returns.
Background:
This role will be a researched focused training role, the primary purpose of which is to provide early career scientists with the opportunity to develop their research skills and competencies. As part of this development, the function of this role is to work closely with project leaders at Teagasc and help outline methodologies by which moisture status can be quantified remotely to approximate soil type heterogeneity and temporal variability to allow for a sub-paddock scale understanding of moisture regimes and bespoke management of same. The role will focus on developing moisture status applications to include appraisals of optimised grazing management, nutrient use efficiency, fertiliser application timing and climate variability. Such applications would provide mapping of farmland and relevant sub-paddock scale information. This information would help the farmer make decisions to safeguard soil health, while optimising fertilizer applications and crop returns. Additional applications would require assessments of management/soil moisture interactions to establish optima and prescribe idealised management.
Background to Teagasc Post-Doctoral Programme:
The Teagasc post-doctoral programme provides training and development opportunities for early career scientists which enhances their experience of learning and equips them with the necessary skills for the next stage of their chosen career in research. Appointees to a Teagasc Post-Doctoral Fellowship will be required to undertake a Level 9 Professional Diploma in Researcher Development delivered by University College Dublin (UCD). The Post-Doctoral Fellow 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.
This professional diploma is a flexible, modular programme which embraces a blended learning approach to align with the Post-Doctoral Fellow's role in Teagasc. It is designed to develop competencies and transferable skills in research, professionalism, communication and career development. The majority of the programme is delivered online with the remaining elements delivered in-person at Teagasc locations. This blended approach affords the Post-Doctoral Fellow the opportunity to meet and network with other Teagasc colleagues. During the course of the diploma Post-Doctoral Fellows will have access to a full range of supports including the UCD library, writing centre and careers centre.
Modules will be conducted under the supervision and direction of Patrick Touhy or other designated manager in conjunction with the Head of Department.
A detailed job specification can be accessed on our website at
www.teagasc.ie/opportunities To apply interested applicants are required to set up their profile on TOPJobs, the Teagasc recruitment portal.
Find out more about our recruitment process on
https://www.teagasc.ie/about/opportunities/the-recruitment-process/
