Background:

Teagasc is seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated researcher with an interest in modelling and development of decision support tools. The candidate will be incorporated to the team of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) funded project “Sustainable reduction of antimicrobial use at dry-off in dairy farms”. The project will provide the successful postdoctoral researcher with opportunities to engage with a broad range of stakeholders and make a sizeable contribution to the dairy industry by helping farmers with decision making at or around dry-off.

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 - Pablo Silva Bolona or other designated manager in conjunction with the Head of Department.

Mastitis treatment accounts for a significant portion of antibiotics used on dairy farms, especially at dry-off. With new EU regulations aiming to reduce preventive antibiotic use, there is a need to find alternative solutions for cows without infections at the end of lactation. Teagasc research has highlighted how farm-specific data, mastitis trends, treatment selection criteria, and management practices impact the success of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy. 

This project aims to understand the management factors that influence the success of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy and to model the impact of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy on intramammary infections and antibiotic use. You will work to develop predictions of the impact of dry cow therapy on mastitis and antibiotic use at farm level and to develop decision support tools to assist farmers improve the implementation of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy. These actions will contribute to meet EU targets on antimicrobial use, facilitate the implementation of EU regulation and help farmers improve the health of their cows.

Duties & Responsibilities specific to this project:

• Developing models to predict the impact of farm management practices on the outcome of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy.
• Developing models to predict the impact of widespread adoption of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy on udder health and antibiotic use.
• To collaborate with ICBF in the development of a decision support tool to assist farmers in the selection of cows needing antibiotic treatment at dry-off.
• To expand the decision support tool to allow user input and provide recommendations for a successful implementation of non-antibiotic dry cow therapy in their herds.
• Collaborating with researchers, project stakeholders, dairy farmers, farm staff and industry partners to ensure successful implementation of the project’s work plan.
• Dissemination of knowledge generated to the scientific and farming communities.
   

Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

• 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.

Essential

• PhD in Veterinary epidemiology or related field.
• Relevant research experience not to exceed 3 years’ post-PhD.
• Demonstrated research and technical expertise in data analysis, simulation models and machine learning or cognate fields.
• Demonstrated research and technical expertise in dairy farming, epidemiology and decision support tools.
• 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 towards algal bioactive compounds.
• 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.
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, presentation) with an ability to enable effective knowledge and technology transfer.
• The candidate must be highly proficient in both written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Highly self-motivated with proven abilities in problem solving and data analysis.
• A full driving licence is required.

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