Duration:
Temporary externally funded non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 20 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.
Basic Function:
Teagasc seeks to recruit a Research Officer to a European funded position. The successful candidate will have experience in working with fermented foods, conducting colon model experiments, performing bioassays to test gut microbiome modulating potential of these fermented foods, and ideally, the analysis of 16S amplicon sequencing data, including generating taxonomic, functional and diversity related outputs using assembly-based and assembly-free approaches.
Background:
FutureFoodS has funded the project entitled ”FERMGUT.’’ The FERMGUT project is led by Teagasc through Dr Harsh Mathur in collaboration with University College Cork and APC Microbiome Ireland, with inputs from Dr Susan Joyce and Prof. Paul Cotter. The Teagasc component of the project, led by Dr Harsh Mathur is focused on the generation of novel plant-based as well as dairy-based fermented foods and downstream testing of their effects on the faecal microbiota of the healthy population through a series of ex vivo human distal colon model bioassays analysis of microbiome data, generated through 16S amplicon sequencing. The UCC component of FERMGUT led by Dr Joyce will involve evaluation of metabolite profiles of these novel fermented foods as well as determining the faecal metabolite profiles from faecal water samples from the aforementioned colon model experiments. Correlation studies will be conducted by combining the faecal microbiota and faecal metabolomics data to identify and shortlist novel fermented foods with gut health benefits and collaborating with laboratories in INRAE and IBD-Biotech in France and UAM in Spain for testing the shortlisted fermented foods in murine models and cell culture assays respectively. Teagasc are recruiting a microbiologist/molecular biologist to lead this project and to work with a PhD student on this project as well as the collaborative laboratories in France and Spain.
- An honours Level 8 degree, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology or related field.
- A postgraduate degree and/or research experience in Microbiology, , Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry would be a
distinct advantage
- Demonstrated research and technical expertise in generating plant-based and dairy-based fermented foods, performing colon model experiments or analysing 16S amplicon sequencing data.
- Evidence of research activity (publications, conference presentations, awards) and future scholarly output (working papers, research proposals etc.)
- Excellent project management, analytical, report writing and data analysis skills.
- Experience in setting own research agenda.
- Evidence of teamwork and collaboration with relevant partners.
- An ability to collaborate with team members and PhD students to help build research knowledge and skills and to guide professional development.
- Commitment to teamwork and collaborating with colleagues as per our Teagasc Together ethos.
- Excellent communication skills (oral, written, presentation) with an ability to enable effective knowledge and technology transfer.
- Ability to generate new ideas, unique concepts, models and solutions.
- Commitment to teamwork and collaborating with colleagues as per our Teagasc Together ethos
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.
