PhD Fellowship in Microbial Ecology & Bioprotection of Plant Foods

About the role

The PhD fellowship focuses on microbial ecology and the development of community‑based bioprotection strategies for fresh plant foods. You will join the BIOBARRIER project, investigating how bacterial communities suppress spoilage organisms on potatoes and other crops.

Key responsibilities

• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to study bacterial‑spoilage interactions.
• Generate and analyse transcriptomic and metabolomic data from microbial communities.
• Develop computational models to link community composition with protective functions.
• Collaborate with national and international partners, including a six‑month research stay in Ireland.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts and present findings at conferences.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in microbiology, food science, molecular biology or a related field.
• Strong interest in microbial ecology, food safety and sustainable agriculture.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Required skills

• Transcriptomics
• Metabolomics
• Computational analysis
• Sequencing techniques
• Microscopy
• Bioinformatics

What we offer

• Fully funded three‑year PhD position with a stipend.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art microbiology, sequencing and imaging facilities.
• Opportunity for an international research stay at Teagasc and University College Cork.
• Mentorship within the Multispecies Systems Microbiology Group.