Job Opportunities in Ireland

Duration:
Temporary externally funded non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 47 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:
To conduct research in plant science and biotechnology in the framework of the ‘Future Cereals’ project by establishing a genotype-independent barley genetic transformation technology platform capable of delivering CRISPR/Cas reagents and cisgenes, updating the Teagasc genome editing toolkit, advancing cisgenesis technology towards generation of gene Copy Number Variation (CNV), fine tune biological processes by engineering “loss-of-function” (LOF) and “gain-of-function” (GOF) gene allelic series, showcasing the project technological concepts and capabilities through generation of unique genetic variation in barley Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus disease resistance and to collaborate with other team members in the project on the socioeconomic impact of new breeding technologies.

Background:
Oak Park Research Centre (part of the Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, CELUP) in Carlow is Ireland’s leading research institute on crops research, and conducts both basic and applied research on a wide range of subjects, including breeding of potatoes, agronomy, plant physiology, genetics and biotechnology of crops.
Future Cereals is a 4-year project on developing a barley-centred genome editing and cisgenesis technologies platform that is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is a collaboration among Teagasc, University College Dublin, and the company Goldcrop in Co. Cork.
Barley is the biggest cereal crop in Ireland and is a valuable source of feed and food ingredient for the beverage industry/brewing and distilling.
The objectives of this project are:
(1) To establish genotype-independent barley genetic transformation technology platform capable of delivering CRISPR/Cas reagents and cisgenes at will, which will empower multitrait crop engineering and gene function analysis;
(2) To update Teagasc genome editing toolkit;
(3) To advance cisgenesis technology towards generation of gene Copy Number Variation (CNV) that is not available in barley and barley wild relatives’ germplasms and is necessary to investigate the value of gene dosage effect in plant breeding;
(4) To shift from brutal knockouts and overexpression methodology that is customary in basic science, to fine tuning of biological processes by engineering “loss-of-function” (LOF) and “gain-of-function” (GOF) gene allelic series, which is a more common necessity in plant breeding;
(5) To showcase the project technological concepts and capabilities through generation of unique genetic variation in barley Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus disease resistance;
(6) To develop a robust framework for the socioeconomic impact analyses of new plant breeding technologies in Ireland.

Duties & Responsibilities specific to this project:

• Establish a genotype-independent barley genetic transformation technology platform capable of delivering CRISPR/Cas reagents and cisgenes
• Update the Teagasc genome editing toolkit
• Advance cisgenesis technology towards generation of gene Copy Number Variation (CNV)
• Fine tune biological processes by engineering “loss-of-function” (LOF) and “gain-of-function” (GOF) gene allelic series
• Showcasing the project technological concepts and capabilities through generation of unique genetic variation in barley Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus disease resistance
• Collaborate with other team members in the Future Cereals project
• Support specific project management activities of the Future Cereals project

Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

• To interpret research findings and prepare scientific and popular press publications
• To disseminate research findings to a variety of audiences as appropriate
• 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
• To 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 take up additional duties as they may arise and be assigned by management

• 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.