Duration:
Temporary externally funded non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 36 months, subject to contract. 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 with the option to extend for a further 12 month period.
Basic Function
The successful candidate will be central in performing the following functions:
- Lead the operation of spectral analysis of soils and wet chemistry analysis.
- Preliminary analysis of soils and spectral data.
- Manage and maintain the soil spectral library as well as the sample cataloguing, tracking, storage and associated metadata records
- Coordinate and undertake the collection, transport and transfer of soil samples between GSI facilities in Dublin and Teagasc Johnstown Castle (full driving licence required).
- Contribute to and produce high quality technical papers.
Background
Terra Soil is a collaborative research project with Teagasc that combines GSI’s Tellus dataset with the expertise and technologies of both organisations to develop outputs that support policy and practice. The first phase of Terra Soil focused on developing spectral libraries and environmental indicators for the northern half of Ireland using Tellus soil archives and advanced geostatistical and spectroscopic modelling approaches. In the second phase, these spectral libraries and models will be used to predict multiple soil properties, including particle size distribution, soil texture, soil organic carbon and nitrogen, from approximately 20,000 soil samples, providing substantial savings in cost and time compared with conventional laboratory methods.
To support this work, Teagasc seeks to appoint a Technologist Grade 1. The successful candidate will be responsible for acquiring high-quality soil spectra from archived samples, implementing quality assurance procedures, and conducting conventional soil analyses (e.g. particle size distribution, total carbon and soil organic carbon) on a subset of samples for model calibration and validation. The appointee will also coordinate the management and movement of soil archives between facilities and contribute to the preparation of scientific publications and technical reports arising from the project.
The position will be based in the Environment, Soils and Land Use Department at Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland’s leading centre for soils and environmental research. The successful candidate will work closely with an established multidisciplinary team of technologists and researchers specialising in spectroscopy, chemometrics, soil health and environmental analysis, within a large department comprising research, technical and administrative staff
- A Level 8 degree (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physics, Physical Chemistry, Soil Science, Biological science, Geography, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, or related discipline.
- A postgraduate degree and/or research experience in spectroscopy, chemometrics or soil science would be a distinct advantage
- Strong practical laboratory skills.
- Lab instrumentation (cal, trouble shooting)
- Experience in wet chemistry.
- Experience in data analysis and statistics.
- Good IT skills, including experience managing large datasets (e.g. Excel or similar tools)
- Strong organisation skills.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent ability to plan, organize, manage and schedule work effectively.
- The ability to work autonomously and independently.
- Ability to approach complex data-related problems with analytical thinking and creativity.
- Experience in MIR/NIR spectroscopy using benchtop, portable and field instrumentation.
- Proven ability to add value to research, and scientific paper writing.
- Experience of method development, writing of standard operating procedures and training of equipment users.
- Aptitude for multidisciplinary approaches.
- Publications in peer-reviewed academic journals.
- Ability to visualize data for easy interpretation.
- Familiarity with laboratory based analytical techniques for environmental samples
- Laboratory assurance and quality control.
- Experience with constructing and maintaining large databases.
- Familiar with Bruker FTIR, LECO Elemental Analyzers, PARIOs system.
- Experience with R, or Python, another similar programming language.
- Chemometric and advanced data analysis (PCA, PLS, PLSDA, SVM, Random Forest, NN, etc).
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team, with strong collaboration and relationship-building skills.
- Motivated, proactive, and willing to learn new techniques and approaches.
- Demonstrates positive approach to new challenges and dissemination of new tasks.
- Capacity to multi-task, flexibility and prioritize tasks to ensure work deliverables met at pressure times of season.
- Ability to problem solve and demonstrates a high level of attention to detail.
- Ability to innovate and work as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building relationships with peers/stakeholders
As this role will involve driving vehicles, candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads.
Eligibility
This is an open public competition. Should a current serving Teagasc staff member be successful in their application through open public competition for this post, their current contract of employment with Teagasc will come to an end on taking up this post.
Note: The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.
