Basic Function:

The appointed research officer will work on the Agri-Adapt project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  The programme is spread across a number of Teagasc centres and additionally includes 3 Research Providing Organisations (RPOs).  The successful candidate will be responsible for modelling scenarios around future climate change pathways that have implications for agricultural productivity in Ireland.  This will involve exploring the economic impact of different climate change scenarios under a ‘business as usual’ no adaptation pathway and assessing the cost and efficacy of different climate adaptation measures.

Background:

The Agri-adapt project aims to estimate the impact of climate change on grass growth, crop growth and forestry in Ireland. Grass growth projection (yield and seasonality) maps for Ireland will be produced. Consequences of this variation in term of N leaching, gaseous emission and economics will be evaluated. Similar modelling exercise will be conducted for the crop sector. Different adaptation strategies will be tested using the models available and different optimal management strategies will be identified.

Duties & Responsibilities specific to this project:

• Literature review of methodologies that link farm scale models to spatially based biophysical models in modelling the impact of different climate change scenarios.
• Explore the economic impact of different climate change scenarios across different farm system and land use types under a business as usual no adaptation pathway.
• Where effects of climate change are estimated to lead to negative productivity and economic outcomes across different farm systems or land uses the cost and efficacy of different climate adaptation measures will be assessed using cost effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis criteria.
• A ranking of the most cost-effective measure for climate adaption across different land uses and climate change scenarios will be generated across different farm system types.

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 actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• 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.
• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.  It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

 Note:  The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.

Note:  Alternative location(s) may be considered solely at the discretion of Teagasc management.