Basic Function:

The Researcher Officer will be part of the VistaMilk Research Centre and will specifically work on the System of Systems (SoS) platform.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in advancing pasture modeling capabilities within the VistaMilk Research Centre. This position is central to the development of cutting-edge tools for precision pasture management, integrating mechanistic modeling with other modeling techniques to deliver improved predictions of grass growth and grass quality. The research will build on the existing MoSt grass growth (GG) model, enhancing its capacity to account for soil moisture dynamics, grass quality, legume inclusion, and environmental impacts. This work will contribute directly to decision-support systems such as PastureBase Ireland and national initiatives like the Farming Weather Forecast. The successful candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of researchers across Teagasc, UCD, ICBF, and other partner organizations, ensuring the research addresses both scientific challenges and real-world applications.

The successful candidate will be based at Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork. Other Teagasc research centres may be considered solely at the discretion of Teagasc management.

Background:

Teagasc is Ireland’s leading organization for research, advisory, and education in agriculture and food. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Teagasc conducts high-quality research to support the competitiveness of Irish agriculture and the wider agri-food sector. The Moorepark Research Centre is internationally recognized for its expertise in dairy science and grassland research.

VistaMilk Research Centre:

The VistaMilk Research Centre, based at Teagasc Moorepark since 2018, is a world leader in fundamental and translational research for precision, pasture-based dairying. Now in its second six-year phase (2024–2030), VistaMilk focuses on creating a federated system of digital models ("digital shadows") for the soil-to-gut pathway. This integrated system enables whole-system scenario modeling to address challenges such as climate change adaptation, policy development, and farm management, providing unprecedented insights for Ireland’s dairy sector.

As a collaboration between 13 agri-food and ICT research institutes and industry partners, VistaMilk drives innovation by combining expertise across agriculture, food science, data analytics, and technology. Hosted by Teagasc, the Centre will employ 162 research staff over the next six years, advancing solutions that enhance sustainability, profitability, and resilience in dairy farming.

• Proactively identify limitations in the current grass growth prediction framework and lead the development of innovative improvements to increase model accuracy and real-world applicability.
• Develop a grass quality predictor based on weather, soil type, and management, and integrate it into the MoSt GG model.
• Develop and evaluate hybrid AI techniques to improve grass growth predictions at the farm level.
• Integrate the pasture module with the soil and animal modules within the System of Systems platform.
• Implement and maintain robust model versioning practices to ensure traceability, reproducibility, and effective collaboration across modelling workflows.
• Collaborate with researchers across Teagasc, UCD, ICBF, and other external partners to ensure the effective delivery of project objectives.
• Disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and public engagement activities.
• Participate in the supervision of MSc and PhD students.
• 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.