PhD Studentship (Walsh Fellowship)

Teagasc PhD Walsh Fellowship Opportunity

“The genomic component of beef eating quality”

Walsh Fellowship Ref Number 2018056

Background

Consumers are able to distinguish beef quality on a scale from unsatisfactory to premium with high accuracy. Identifying robust biological markers of beef tenderness offer the means to select cattle with meat eating quality to meet consumer expectations. Putative regulatory and functional elements for candidate genes will be identified through RNA sequencing experiments and bioinformatic mining of existing data sets including genetic, proteomic and transcriptomic data. Biological implications of promising polymorphisms will be evaluated using molecular biology approaches. The outcome will be a panel of genes and SNPs functionally associated to tenderness in Irish bovine germplasm. The successful applicant will apply methods of molecular biology, transcriptomics and bioinformatics through collaboration with supervisors with expertise in meat science and genomics.

Requirements

Applicants should have a good primary degree (First or Upper Second Class Honours) and preferably an M.Sc. in an appropriate discipline (Molecular Biology, Genetics or Bioinformatics). The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated and open to a multi-disciplinary project with extensive industry interaction.

Award

The fellowship funding is €22,000 per annum and includes University fees of up to a maximum of €6,000 per annum and is tenable for four years.

Further Information/Applications

Dr Ruth Hamill, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Republic of Ireland

Phone +353 (0)1 8059500 email: ruth.hamill@teagasc.ie

Prof Torres Sweeney, School of Veterinary Sciences

Phone +353 (0)1 7166244 email: torres.sweeney@ucd.ie

Award

The student will be registered at University College Dublin, working under the supervision of Prof. Torres Sweeney in association with Teagasc supervisors (Dr. Ruth Hamill, Dr. Anne Maria Mullen and Dr. Noirin McHugh). Periods of laboratory and data analysis work will be undertaken at Teagasc Ashtown, University College Dublin and Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. The Fellowship will start as soon as possible when a suitable candidate is appointed.

Application Procedure

Submit an electronic copy of Curriculum Vitae and a letter of interest simultaneously to:

Dr Ruth Hamill ruth.hamill@teagasc.ie and Prof Torres Sweeney torres.sweeney@ucd.ie

Closing date

20 November 2018