Offer Description
The Sustainability Institute/School of BEES are now recruiting for a Post-Doctoral Researcher to work on the EPA-funded PiTCROP project (Pasture irrigation with treated wastewater: challenges, risks and opportunities). The PiTCROP project is exploring how treated municipal wastewater could be safely reused to irrigate pasture, grassland, and other non-food crops in Ireland, helping to inform future water and agricultural policy.
The project brings together stakeholder insights from Ireland and internationally to understand attitudes, opportunities, and best practice around wastewater reuse. It also includes laboratory and glasshouse trials assessing the effects of treated wastewater on grass species such as ryegrass and white clover under different climate stress conditions. Ultimately, PiTCROP aims to develop a practical, risk-based framework to support evidence-led decision-making on wastewater reuse in Irish agriculture, particularly in the context of increasing water scarcity and climate extremes.
The key role as a postdoctoral researcher joining this project will be:
1. To collect and organise chemical and microbial analysis of wastewater samples.
2. To strongly influence the direction of irrigation trials and stakeholder assessments.
3. Drive publication of results, and engagement with project stakeholders; and,
4. Play an active role in mentoring/co-supervision of junior project members.
Additional experience and knowledge in any of the following areas would be highly valued: analytical laboratory experience, especially prior work on wastewater samples or water analysis, experience in plant culture and growth, synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data, scholarly review and compiling datasets; statistical and spatial analysis.
Achievement of the expected progression within Post Doc and Senior Post Doc is transferable between the Irish HEI’s. This can be reflected in the starting pay of a PD researcher. Similarly, as the PD scheme is an intergenerational training scheme completion of PD1 or PD 2 levels in one HEI will normally render that researcher ineligible for appointment at a similar level in another Irish HEI Researcher Career Development Framework | Irish Universities Association
Where to apply
Website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/
Skills/Qualifications
- To conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigators/Project Leader.
- To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigators, School or College in order to develop research skills and competencies.
- To gain experience in grant writing.
- To engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of a Principal Investigator.
- To become familiar with the publication process.
- To acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
- To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or College.
- To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day-to-day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
- To carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
- To carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
- To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project.
Specific Requirements
- A PhD qualification with a background of research in wastewater, analytical or water chemistry.
- Appropriate research experience in wastewater or water sample analysis.
- Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
- A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
- Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
- A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.
- Ability to work well within a team.
