Basic Function

The successful candidate will occupy a central role in the D-TECT project bringing together all the project learnings to propose an updated, refined framework for reporting greenhouse gas emissions associated with lowland grassland peat soils. The candidate will develop workflows and models to update and align organic soil classification with national inventory categories. The candidate will develop an online interactive tool to maximise interaction and broader engagement with project outcomes. They will refine and update the peat soil association class in the 3rd Edition national soil map of Ireland. They will develop a framework to assess feasibility of technologies deployed in the D-TECT project for wider applicability. Also, the candidate will participate in technical reporting requirements and contribute to wider project dissemination efforts.

Background

In Ireland, carbon-rich grassland soils that are assumed to be deep drained and nutrient rich represent a strong GHG source of emissions in the National Inventory Report. There is a need for more refined estimates that consider nutrient status and drainage status. The D-TECT project is testing the potential of a range of innovative technological and modelling approaches to support more accurate data for characterising lowland grassland peat soils, such as water table depth. D-TECT aims to provide practical mapping and reporting tools that can facilitate data entry as it becomes available and to explore potential to utilise outcomes to inform National Inventory Reporting.

The successful applicant will be part of the D-TECT project team and will work with and be supported by other members of the wider team. The post will be based at the Environment, Soils and Land Use Department in the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre in Wexford, Ireland. Teagasc Johnstown Castle is Ireland’s leading research institute on soils and environment related research and conducts both fundamental and applied research on a wide range of subjects, including nutrient efficiency, water quality, gaseous emissions, soil quality, agro-ecology, and land use.

• Integrate and extrapolate findings from other DTECT work packages to propose a refined framework for National Inventory Reporting.
• Develop an online interactive tool to maximise interaction and broader engagement with project outcomes.
• Develop a feasibility framework to assess the potential opportunities and/or limitations associated with technologies tested to guide options for wider deployment.
• To analyse and support ongoing analysis of collected data and to contribute to scientific publications and project reporting requirements.
• Update the peat soils association in the 3rd Edition National Soil Map of Ireland.
• 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.