Basic Function:

This competition seeks to recruit a post doctorate focused on investigating the impact  of management, soil type, climate and land-use on ecosystem CO₂ fluxes and the net carbon (C) balance of agricultural systems in Ireland, as part of the DAFM funded project Carbon sequestration from Agricultural soils from different Land-uses, Managements and Soil types (CALMS). CO2 fluxes will be measured at several sites using a network of eddy covariance towers as part of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO), as well as analysing existing long-term eddy covariance data.

The successful candidates will join a well-resourced team of permanent and contract staff carrying out C sequestration research. They will organise the daily operations of the project work at Johnstown Castle, and will assist the project co-ordinator and PI in collating reports and arranging project meetings. They will take the lead in data analysis and in writing progress reports, presentations and publication of scientific/technical papers. They will contribute to the design, management and execution of field experiments, and will be responsible for the maintenance of a subset of the NASCO sites.

Background:

The 2021 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act sets out in law Ireland’s commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The sectoral emissions targets set by the Government in 2022 include a 25% reduction in emissions from the Agriculture sector. In the Irish inventory, the second largest Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) emissions source is grassland which emitted 2.4 Mt CO2eq in 2022.

Ireland currently utilizes a Tier 1 default emission factor by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for soil organic carbon (SOC) on mineral soils and thus represents a large uncertainty on what the actual emission and sink potential of Irish agricultural soils are. Therefore, there is a necessity for measured CO₂ flux data and measured soil organic carbon (SOC) stock data from different soil types, managements and land-uses. This would enable Ireland to refine its national GHG inventory for land use factors (LU) and land management factors (LM). The aims of CALMS are to quantify the effect of soils (mineral and peat), management (grazing intensities and sward composition) and land-use (grassland and cropland) on carbon sequestration. The project will use an ensemble of techniques including eddy covariance to measure ecosystem scale fluxes of CO2 and CH4 which in combination with management, soil carbon stocks and biomass data will allow the construction of ecosystem scale carbon balances.

The position will be based in Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land-use Department in Johnstown Castle, Wexford.   Teagasc - Johnstown Castle is Ireland’s leading research institute on soils and environment related research, and conducts both fundamental and applied research on a wide range of subjects, e.g. soil quality, nutrient efficiency, water quality, gaseous emissions, agro-ecology, and land use.  Johnstown Castle has many different laboratory, greenhouse and field facilities to support research as well as 190 hectares of farmland.

The Teagasc post-doctoral programme provides training and development opportunities for early career scientists that enhances their experience of learning and equips them with the necessary skills for the next stage of their chosen career in research.  Appointees to a Teagasc Post-Doctoral Fellowship will be required to undertake a Level 9 Professional Diploma in Researcher Development delivered by University College Dublin (UCD).  

This professional diploma is a flexible, modular programme which embraces a blended learning approach to align with the Post-Doctoral Fellow's role in Teagasc.  It is designed to develop competencies and transferable skills in research, professionalism, communication and career development.  The majority of the programme is delivered online with the remaining elements delivered in-person at Teagasc locations.  This blended approach affords the Post-Doctoral Fellow the opportunity to meet and network with other Teagasc colleagues.  During the course of the diploma Post-Doctoral Fellows will have access to a full range of supports including the UCD library, writing centre and careers centre.

This is a research focused training role, the primary purpose of which is to provide early career scientists with the opportunity to develop their research skills and competencies.

The Post-Doctoral Fellow will, while working in conjunction with senior research staff, gain insight and experience into a variety of areas including the processes of project and budgetary management, publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals, writing grant applications, and attracting external funding; the development of active collaboration with relevant national and international research communities; the development of communication and presentation skills, leadership and management skills, and overall career development.

Modules will be conducted under the supervision and direction of the Project Leader or other designated manager in conjunction with the Head of Department.

It is essential that the candidate possess an Irish/EU driving licence that meets  legal requirements for insurance. The successful candidate will be required to drive to sites across Ireland frequently. If the candidate possess a driver’s licence outside of Ireland/EU they must ensure that the licence is compatibility with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) Ireland requirements. Please refer to this link for more information: 

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel-and-recreation/motoring/driver-licensing/exchanging-foreign-driving-permit/ 

Duties & Responsibilities specific to this project:

• Conduct experiments quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils associated with different management regimes.
• Operate laboratory analysis to measure carbon sequestration on agricultural soils associated with different management regimes.
• Data analysis and modelling of greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration from agricultural soils associated with different management regimes.
• Oversee the management of a network of eddy covariance sites being established under the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory across Ireland.
• Operate and maintain gaseous emissions monitoring equipment in good condition and co-ordinate relevant laboratory analysis/experiments.
• Assist in coordination of the research team.
• Produce high quality papers, relevant for farm practice and policy for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals using existing and newly generated data.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

• To interpret research findings and prepare scientific and popular press publications.
• To disseminate research findings to a variety of audiences as appropriate.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To comply with all relevant Teagasc policies and procedures.
• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• To actively participate in the Teagasc Post Doctoral Fellowship programme and review processes, and to undertake all Post Doctoral fellowship training and associated duties as agreed in the Training & Development Plan.
• To take up additional duties as they may arise and be assigned by management.

This section outlines the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would be required to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.  Applications will be assessed on how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Essential:

• PhD in agriculture, environmental science, physics, atmospheric science or another appropriate science-related discipline.
• Relevant research experience not to exceed 3 years’ post-PhD.
• Demonstrated research and technical expertise in measuring, monitoring and modelling agricultural gaseous emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and statistical analysis
• 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.
• An ability to collaborate with team members and PhD students to help build research knowledge and skill and to guide professional development.
• 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.
• Full Irish/EU driving license or equivalent to legally drive on Irish roads using a Teagasc vehicle.
• Experience in using R or other data programmes such as python or Linnux
• Experience in database use and management
• Experience of measuring gaseous emissions from soils. Laboratory and field quality assurance & quality control.

Desirable:

• Experience in operating automated field equipment (for example, .eddy covariance, dynamic chambers, open path spectroscopy for gaseous measurements).
• Understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils.
• Experience with eddy covairnace data processing software such as Eddypro or Tovi.
• Experience in carbon fractionation techniques
• Experience in isotopes (13C, 15N) natural abundance in soils.
• Experience in setting own research agenda.
• Evidence of teamwork and collaboration with relevant partners.