Background:

Teagasc are seeking to appoint a highly qualified and enthusiastic researcher to develop and lead a research programme in anaerobic digestion (AD). The successful candidate’s research programme will have particular emphasis on: technological developments in AD technologies; optimizing the production of biogas, biomethane and biogenic carbon from agricultural feedstocks including conserved forage crops and livestock slurry; developing process based models of bioenergy recovery from slurry and agricultural biomass; enterprise level economic and environmental modelling of biogas production and the integration of AD plants into livestock systems; sectoral analysis of the development of an Irish agricultural AD industry. This will be a key appointment for Teagasc with national significance in developing our agricultural renewable energy industry over the coming years.

The Grange campus is part of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Teagasc and has extensive facilities for field and laboratory research.  A pilot scale AD biomethane plant is due to be commissioned at Teagasc Grange in 2026 and the successful candidate will be required to develop a research and innovation programme around this AD plant. Teagasc has an international reputation for research and development in grass-based agricultural systems and this candidate will work with a dynamic team of researchers and specialists across Teagasc’s Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme at Moorepark, Grange and Athenry. The AD programme will also across the Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme and the Rural Economy and Development Programme.

Basic Function:

To develop, lead and implement a research programme in the area of agricultural anaerobic digestion with particular focus on the following:

• Technological innovation in AD processes
• Optimizing biogas yield from agricultural feedstocks
• Maximising circularity in AD-livestock systems with a focus on the valorisation of organic manures and digestate from AD
• Conduct desktop, laboratory and field scale experimentation of anaerobic digestion and co-digestion of agricultural feedstocks
• Modelling agricultural AD at plant, farm and sectoral level

• Develop, lead and implement a research programme in the area of agricultural anaerobic digestion. 
• Design and manage experiments; statistical analyse and publish the resulting data.
• Manage staff and resources assigned to the research programme.
• Identify opportunities for cutting-edge research to address key knowledge gaps.
• Lead successful submissions for external funding, that is consistent with the Teagasc research programme, with the objective of developing critical mass in the area by building and supervising a dynamic team of post-doctoral researchers(s) and post-graduate student(s). 
• Develop and maintain active collaboration with relevant national and international research communities.
• Work closely with Teagasc Knowledge Transfer Specialists to ensure effective dissemination of research findings to advisors and stakeholders.
• Supervise, in conjunction with academic collaborator postgraduate students to Masters and PhD level.
• Interpret and publish research results in the scientific and popular press, at conferences (nationally and internationally) and to stakeholders
• 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.
• To fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations, including full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• To carry out 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.