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Soil BioTechnologist

Location: Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, Wexford
Technologist
Salary: Technologist Grade 1 with a Salary Scale of €41,996 to €79,618
Closing Date: 24/04/2026 12:00 PM
Temporary Full Time

Job Summary

Duration:

Temporary contract post, the indicative duration of which is 12 months, subject to contract. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.

Basic Function

The Technologist will have a key role in assisting researchers within the Soil and Environmental Microbiology research programme and will take an active role in contributing to ongoing research projects in this area. The successful candidate will be responsible for the administration, workflow, quality control and maintenance of laboratories supporting the research programme, and for training post-graduate students and post-doctoral researchers using the microbiology and molecular biology laboratories. They will also have a role in assay development, the development of work pipelines, sample curation and in overseeing biological safety in the department. The technologist will be responsible for technology foresight to identify emerging technologies/methods, assisting researchers with grant applications, results analysis and reporting. They will also contribute to the development of the wider microbiome research programme within Teagasc.

Background

Teagasc Johnstown Castle is leading research into understanding soil health processes and nutrient dynamics that underpin the environmental and agronomic sustainability of Irish and global agricultural systems. Soil microorganisms are critically important for the functioning of soils, and their activity is a fundamental determinant of nutrient losses from soil to air and water. Despite their importance we know relatively little about their composition and functioning. New technologies are offering hitherto unattainable insights into the microbes and pathways that underpin functions related to productivity, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. These technologies offer great potential to inform soil management strategies that are environmentally benign but support primary productivity. In addition, they enable assessment of the effect of management, environmental and edaphic factors on the soil microbiome.

Teagasc is now seeking to appoint a highly qualified and enthusiastic Soil Biotechnologist that will join an active and dynamic research group at the National Agricultural Sustainability Research and Innovation Centre. The position will be based at Teagasc’s Environment, Soils and Land‑Use Department at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. The Department is a leader in soil and environmental research, conducting both fundamental and applied work on topics including soil carbon, soil health, carbon farming, gaseous emissions, nutrient‑use efficiency, water quality and farmland biodiversity. Johnstown Castle has an extensive array of laboratory, greenhouse and field facilities to support research as well as 190 hectares of farmland.

Job Objectives

To lead the administration, workflow, quality control and maintenance of the microbiology and molecular biology laboratories in Johnstown Castle.
To coordinate health and safety compliance in the soil microbiology and molecular biology research laboratories and to oversee biological safety in the department.
Stay abreast of advances in techniques, tests, procedures and technologies in soil microbiology and molecular biology, and incorporate relevant developments into the Teagasc programme.
To ensure that equipment and facilities are operating at the highest level of efficiency and advise management on new equipment purchases.
To carry out laboratory analysis of soil and environmental samples using a range of micro-and-molecular biology techniques, and to oversee work pipelines.
To develop new microbiological and molecular methodologies in conjunction with researchers.
To train post-graduate students and post-doctoral researchers using the microbiology and molecular laboratories.
To assist researchers with grant application writing, results analysis and reporting.
To undertake quality control of laboratory analyses and ensure good data management.
To coordinate laboratory sustainability efforts.
Support teamwork and a positive team spirit within the Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department at Johnstown Castle, and promote collaboration and integration across the department.
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.

Skills Requirement

	Essential	Desirable
Qualifications	A Level 8 degree (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology or a related discipline.	A postgraduate degree and/or research experience in soil molecular biology or environmental microbiology would be a distinct advantage
Skills	Experience in a wide range of molecular techniques including electrophoresis, PCR, qPCR, nucleic acid quantification and quality assessment, sequencing and cloning. Experience in troubleshooting methodological issues Experience in microbiological and aseptic technique. Experience of method development and writing of standard operating procedures and risk assessments. Experience in analysis and interpretation of microbiological and molecular data. Information technology skills: familiarity with managing and using large data sets. People and resource management skills. Strong interpersonal and dissemination skills.	Previous research experience investigating functional microbial communities in soil. Experience of sample preparation for next generation sequencing analysis of complex microbial communities. Experience of nucleic acid extraction and bacterial isolation from environmental matrices. Experience in primer design and qPCR assay development. Experience in biological safety and handling of class 2 bacterial pathogens. Evidence of scientific communication of research findings. Experience in the use of bioinformatics and in microbial sequence analysis. Experience in method validation and comparison statistics.
Knowledge	Understanding of molecular and microbiology. Understanding of complex microbial communities. Knowledge of a range of analytical methods for complex microbial community analysis. Knowledge of amplicon and shotgun sequencing technologies. Understanding and appreciation of the Irish Public Sector and how it works.	Knowledge of method development and introduction of new laboratory tests. Knowledge of soil microbial communities and functioning.
Behavioural Competencies	Ability to work as part of a team, including consulting, training, collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholders. Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the programme. Ability to communicate effectively to enable knowledge and technology transfer. Flexible approach to work with an ability to prioritise tasks effectively. A results-driven individual with a strong focus on goal-setting, performance delivery and accountability. Ability to work independently, and meet self-imposed milestones and deliverables. A proactive, solutions-focused approach to work with an ability to adapt to changing requirements and shifting priorities.
Other	As this role will involve driving vehicles, candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads
Eligibility	This is an open public competition. Should a current serving Teagasc staff member be successful in their application through open public competition for this post, their current contract of employment with Teagasc will come to an end on taking up this post.

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

Attachment(s) :

Technologist_InformationBooklet.pdf

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