TEAGASC PHD WALSH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Background

Leatherjackets are the soil-dwelling larval stages of crane flies (Tipula paludosa and T. oleracea L.) and are major pests of grassland, and spring cereals following grass, with a detrimental impact on crop yield and food security. In the past control of leatherjackets relied on a combination of cultural practices and chemical insecticides. However, the removal of key chemical insecticides i.e. chlorpyrifos and implementation of the Sustainable Use Directive necessitates development of robust biological control methods to be made available for use in integrated pest management programmes. To develop an effective management plan for this pest a number of aspects need to be addressed including the distribution of predominant species, and the optimisation and utilisation of entomopathogens for biocontrol. Practical and economic optimisation of microbials for environmentally acceptable treatments will be investigated as they have the potential to provide a sustainable alternative to pesticide applications and are also relevant for organic production where leys continue to be required. Field trials will incorporate suitable new/existing biocontrol agents. In addition soil microbiome analysis will be conducted with the aim of identifying the dominant microbial groups that are suppressive to pest invasion. The effect of application of entomopathogens on the indigenous soil microbiome will also be investigated. This project will address these different avenues to develop a pest management plan for leatherjackets where insecticides are not available. This project addresses the need for the cereal sector to prepare for new EU pesticide regulations to ensure the sustainability of crop production in Ireland, and advance low input and more environmentally friendly production systems.

Requirements

Applicants should have a good primary degree (First or Second Class Honours) or M.Sc. in an appropriate discipline (Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Entomology, Microbiology etc.). The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated and be prepared for laboratory work and extended periods of field work. Fluency in English and a full EU driving licence are also required.

Award

The PhD Fellowship is a joint research project between Teagasc (Oak Park & Johnstown Castle), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Edinburgh University, where the student will be registered for a PhD. The project will provide valuable multidisciplinary training and research opportunities in entomology, crop science, environmental microbiology, soil science and computational biology. The student will also receive training in other aspects of scientific work, including result dissemination, statistics, writing for publication and conference presentations, and will join successful research groups in both Ireland and Scotland. The student will be based, in the first instance, at the Teagasc Research Centre at Oak Park, Co. Carlow and will also spend time at SRUC and Johnstown Castle, working under the supervision of Dr. Louise Mc Namara, Dr Fiona Brennan (Teagasc), Dr. Andy Evans (SRUC) and Dr. Gail Jackson (University of Edinburgh). The Fellowship will start as soon as possible after 1st of October 2018 when the most suitable candidate is appointed.

The fellowship provides an annual stipend of €22,000. University registration fees, in the region of €5,000 per year (subject to exchange rates) are paid by the student from the stipend, which is tenable for 4 years. The fellowship is open to EU citizens.