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AIMINGPEAT Research Project: Funded PhD Position in Modelling CO₂ Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands

OVERALL Project description:

Background Information

This PhD opportunity is offered as part of the wider AIMINGPEAT Research Project, titled “Advanced Integrated Measurements and Modelling Approaches for Predicting Carbon Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands. Peatlands are significant carbon (C) reservoirs, and their capacity to act as C sinks is influenced by multiple environmental and management factors. The AIMINGPEAT project aims to improve C emission and removal reporting for Irish peatlands and to identify effective management interventions by focusing on the key drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics, particularly in degraded and rehabilitated sites. A core element of the project is the development of a comprehensive modelling framework that integrates statistical/empirical methods with hybrid or coupled approaches, including biogeochemical process-based models. Modelling carbon exchange in rehabilitated or restored peatlands is challenging due to their heterogeneous conditions, and advanced modelling approaches are required to adequately capture this complexity. Although some country-specific emission factors have been incorporated into recent National Inventory Reports (NIR), default Tier 1 emission factors are still used where specific datasets are lacking. AIMINGPEAT seeks to address these data and methodological gaps.

This PhD project primarily focuses on improving Irish national inventory reporting for peatland carbon dioxide (CO₂), assisting climate neutrality assessment. The project further strives to establish links between analysing GHG emissions/removals at various scales, producing outputs that advance the state-of-the-art and support knowledge transfer to the scientific community and beyond.

Main Objectives:

Funded PhD Opportunity:

Applications are welcomed from EU / EEA / UK applicants. Under the wider AIMINGPEAT Research Project, the applications are invited for one funded PhD research opportunity on integrated measurements and modelling approaches for predicting C emissions and removals from Irish peatlands with main focus on predicting CO2 emissions and removals.

The PhD position provides coverage of EU University fees and a stipend of €25,000 per annum for no longer than four years.

PhD will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Alina Premrov (alina.premrov@atu.ie) at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Science, Sligo, Ireland, in close collaboration with Dr. Matthew Saunders (saundem@tcd.ie), Trinity College Dublin, School of Natural Sciences, Botany Discipline, Plant Ecophysiology Research Group, Dublin, Ireland. At later stages, the project will also work closely with Dr. Jagadeesh Yeluripati (Jagadeesh.Yeluripati@hutton.ac.uk), The James Hutton Institute, Information and Computational Sciences Department, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.

Expected Start Date – preferably no later than September 2026, or earlier if possible.

Candidate Requirements:

Funding Notes: AIMINGPEAT research project is funded under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 (Project Ref. 2024-CE-1289). The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Application Procedure:

Interested applicants should submit their application, within a single PDF document, consisting of a CV with educational background, transcripts of degree results, list of publications and conference presentations, a short (1–2 page) letter of motivation, and names and contact details of three referees, directly to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie. Applicants should clearly indicate which two referees out of three should be prioritised for contact. The motivation letter should clearly state how the applicant’s research interests and skills relate to the research project outlined above. Please ensure that all required documents are included and that your application is complete before submission. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

By submitting their application as outlined above, applicants consent to having their application documents forwarded to and evaluated by the selection committee.

Applications are welcomed from EU / EEA / UK applicants.

ATU is committed to embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – https://www.atu.ie/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion.

Application Deadline:  15th May 2026, earlier applications are preferred.

Application enquiries: Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie.

Evaluating break the pathway measures: Monitoring and evaluating mitigation approaches to improve water quality in an Agricultural Catchment

Description:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and strongly motivated graduate to undertake a 45-month funded PhD in the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), based at our Mountbellew campus in Galway.

The aim of the project is to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of break the pathway measures (e.g., riparian buffer zones and wetlands) to protect and improve water quality within agricultural catchments. Within the context of a doctoral degree programme at ATU, the PhD candidate, under the guidance of the supervisory team will:

The expected outcomes of this project include the identification, evaluation and dissemination of effective mitigation approaches (i.e., measures, management practices, tools and technologies) to protect and improve water quality as an essential element of sustainable agricultural systems in Ireland.

Requirements/Qualifications: The successful candidate must

The candidate will be expected to work on their own initiative and be willing to acquire the broader skills necessary for the successful completion of a PhD project.

Project Duration: 45 months

Conditions:

If either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to web link  English Language Requirements | ATU – Atlantic Technological University  view the minimum English language proficiency standards for entry to ATU.

Project Start Date: May/June 2026

Application Closing Date: 12 noon Friday 3rd April 2026

Applicants should submit:

Applications must be submitted to heather.lally@atu.ie e-mail address only (with subject line “Application to DAFM PhD”). Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file.

Data Protection Statement

ATU takes very seriously its legal obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018 to safeguard and protect your personal information in our possession. The personal information which you disclose to us in this form will only be used to assess your suitability; administer and register you for this scholarship. We will not keep your personal information for any longer than is necessary for those stated purposes. For more details, please refer to ATU’s Student Privacy Statement: Data Protection – Atlantic Technological University

PhD-Disruptive Technology-SensABLATE

About the Project

Atlantic Technological University’s Clinical Photonics Group at ATU Sligo invites applications for a fully funded PhD position within the SensABLATE programme.

SensABLATE is a flagship collaborative research initiative funded under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), bringing together academic, clinical, and industry partners to develop next-generation precision imaging technologies for lung cancer therapy.

The project aims to deliver a transformative intraoperative decision-support platform by integrating advanced optical imaging with artificial intelligence to enable real-time tissue viability assessment and therapy guidance. Through SensABLATE, ATU will advance translational biophotonics and intelligent imaging platforms toward clinical deployment, strengthening Ireland’s position in next-generation medical device innovation.

 Requirements/Qualifications:

• Level 8 Honours degree (First or Second Class) or Master’s degree in AI, Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or a related discipline

• Strong programming skills (Python essential; PyTorch and/or TensorFlow desirable)

• Background in machine learning and image analysis

• Interest or experience in biomedical optics, hyperspectral imaging, or medical imaging

• Knowledge of real-time systems, embedded processing, or computational optimisation (desirable).

English: If English is not the first language, please provide evidence meeting ATU’s postgraduate minimum (IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, minimum 5.5 in each component, or recognised equivalent). Evidence must be current.

Tentative Start date: 1st May 2026

Duration: 3 Years

Location: ATU Sligo

Applicants should submit their:

Applications must be submitted to karina.litvinova@atu.ie e-mail address only. Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file.

Funding Notes

Funded by Atlantic Technological University and Enterprise Ireland

€22,000 per annum for the student

Fees covered up to €5750 per annum with a consumable budget included.

Assessing Next-Generation Intensified Manufacturing of Monoclonal Antibodies and Developing a Competency-Based Training Framework for Academic and Industry Needs

ATU NIBRT Project Overview

Biopharmaceuticals represent a globally significant sector, with a projected market size of over $650 billion by 2028, driven by advanced therapeutics including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cell and gene therapies and innovative vaccines. Ireland continues to play a critical role in global supply, supported by a highly skilled workforce and significant inward investment in manufacturing.

mAbs are the fastest-growing segment of the biopharmaceutical market due to their specificity and therapeutic versatility. To remain competitive, manufacturers are increasingly adopting process intensification and connected/continuous manufacturing to improve productivity, reduce costs and increase speed-to-market. These approaches demand new technical competencies across bioprocess engineering, automation, and digitalisation.

In parallel, the biopharmaceutical sector faces workforce challenges as manufacturing systems become increasingly complex and more regulated. This in turn, means a growing and pressing need for competency-based training that mirrors industrial environments, and importantly is informed by industry needs. NIBRT plays a central national role in this workforce readiness agenda through hands-on training and collaboration with higher education and industry partners.

This MRes project will expand an established collaboration between ATU and NIBRT through delivery against one of five core integrated work strands of a wider HEA “Performance Funding 2024” project.

Specifically, this MRes project addresses two aligned needs of the Irish and global life sciences industry:

The research will (a) survey current and emerging process intensification, connected and continuous bioprocessing strategies and commercially available solutions, and (b) translate findings into an innovative skills-based training curriculum aligned to NIBRT’s hands-on training environment and relevant ATU programmes. The project will be co-supervised by ATU and NIBRT and will involve engagement with industry and NIBRT’s training team.

The proposed project directly supports workforce readiness, higher education–industry collaboration, and Ireland’s strategic positioning in next-generation biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Summary of ATU-NIBRT MRes Research Project

Project Aim(s)

This MRes project will evaluate next-generation intensified biomanufacturing strategies for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and use the findings to design an innovative, competency-based training curriculum to support future workforce needs in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The project combines technical assessment (process/technology landscape) with applied pedagogical development (curriculum design) and will be co-supervised between ATU and NIBRT to ensure alignment with academic standards and industry-relevant training environments.

Project Objectives

By the end of the project the researcher will:

  1. Conduct a structured review of existing and emerging intensified mAb manufacturing technologies and strategies.
  2. Map commercially available solutions and identify future opportunities and technology trends.
  3. Engage relevant stakeholders (industry, NIBRT Training, NIBRT Business Development) to understand technical needs and workforce skill gaps.
  4. Translate findings into a curriculum framework incorporating hands-on, competency-based training elements suitable for integration into ATU-NIBRT programmes and industry offerings.
  5. Disseminate project outcomes through written reports, presentations, and other appropriate academic/professional channels.

Brief Description of Research

The global biopharmaceutical sector is rapidly adopting intensified and continuous bioprocessing to improve productivity, reduce costs and accelerate delivery of advanced therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These technical changes create new demands for a highly skilled, competency-based workforce. This project will: (a) evaluate the current landscape and future direction of intensified mAb bioprocessing, and (b) design a curriculum to support workforce development in this space. Working within NIBRT’s training ecosystem and co-supervised by ATU and NIBRT, the researcher will combine technical assessment with curriculum design, producing outputs relevant to both academic programmes and industry upskilling.

Methodology Overview

The project will employ:

Where appropriate, the researcher may interface with companies, technology vendors, and NIBRT’s Business Development team to validate findings regarding emerging technologies and workforce needs.

Contribution to Field / Significance

This project addresses two aligned national needs:

(1) Ireland’s strategic positioning in next generation biomanufacturing.

(2) Workforce readiness for advanced bioprocessing.

By linking technical process intensification trends with competency-based training design, the project will contribute to:

The curriculum output from this MRes project will make a direct contribution to the work of a wider HEA “Performance Funding 2024” project which itself inherently has practical value for ATU-NIBRT programmes and industry training together with the technical assessment that will support academic knowledge development and may inform future research or publication.

To be considered please forward the following documents:

  1. Cover Letter
  2. CV
  3. Copies of transcripts
  4. Minimum 2:1 Honors Degree in the respective field
  5. Copy of Degree Certificate
  6. Proof of English Language proficiency (if required)
  7. A Personal Statement which should not exceed 1 page and must include details on: How your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this MRes by research programme.
  8. When applicants are available to take up the post
  9. Why you would like to pursue this Master by research programme

All applications must be submitted to paul.walsh@atu.ie e-mail address only. Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file.

Stipend: €22,000 per year. Postgraduate fees will be covered by ATU. Competition is open to European and UK students only.

Closing date for applications is the 19th of March 2026.

For any enquiries please email paul.walsh@atu.ie.

Deep Generative Learning and Predictive Modelling for Ocean Sustainability

This project focuses on the development of Deep Generative AI approaches tailored to the generation, augmentation, and reconstruction of critical oceanic data to support ocean sustainability. By leveraging advanced generative models, the project aims to address data scarcity, uncertainty, and heterogeneity in ocean observations, enabling improved representation and understanding of marine processes.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Essential Requirement:

Minimum 2.1 honors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, IT, Mathematics, or related field.

Desirable Criteria:

Conditions:

Additional Information:

Applicants should submit their:

Applications must be submitted to shagufta.henna@atu.ie e-mail address only. Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file.

For further information on the project, please contact: Dr Shagufta Henna (shagufta.henna@atu.ie).

Funding:  TU RISE is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021- 27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.

Toxicological Profiling in Cetaceans: Linking Contaminant Burdens to Biological Health Metrics

Lead supervisor:

Dr. Sinéad Murphy (Sinead.murphy@atu.ie)

Co-supervisors:

Dr. Cóilín Minto ATU (Coilin.Minto@atu.ie)  

Dr. Rosie Williams, Institute of Zoology, London (rosie.williams@ioz.ac.uk)

Dr. Brendan McHugh, Marine Institute, Rinville, Co. Galway (brendan.mchugh@marine.ie)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other contaminants pose significant risks to marine ecosystems and top predators such as cetaceans. This MSc project will investigate pollutant loads in stranded cetaceans as part of a broader effort to develop biodiversity and health indicators for ecosystem-based management. The research will integrate necropsy sampling, contaminant analysis, and ecological interpretation to assess pollutant exposure and its implications for cetacean health and conservation.

The MSc is part of a larger EMFAF-Marine Institute funded cetacean necropsy and pollutant tender awarded to the Atlantic Technological University, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Eurofins Germany, and the Institute of Zoology, London. Sampling conducted as part of the 2025–2028 vertebrate necropsy project will generate case studies from which samples and associated data, including legacy and emerging pollutant metrics, will be made available for the MSc research. These data will be integrated with an Irish pollutant dataset that compiled both historical and contemporary measurements as part of an earlier project.

Work will include the quantification of concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and a broader suite of legacy and emerging contaminants within tissue matrices collected from stranded and bycaught cetaceans in Irish waters. This analysis will establish robust contaminant baselines, undertake comparison between contemporary and historical datasets, thereby supporting a long term assessment of temporal trends in chemical exposure among cetacean populations inhabiting Irish waters.

Within the MSc, further progress will be made in understanding potential pollutant mechanisms and modes of action, such as immune suppression, toxicity pathways, and inter elemental relationships among pollutants. This will include examining how chemical contaminants interact with factors such as age, sex, nutritional condition, maturity status, pathogens, and disease. The assessment will draw on both detailed case studies and robust statistical analyses.

To evaluate toxicological risk, the project will also develop comprehensive guidelines for interpreting marine mammal toxicity thresholds. These guidelines will incorporate scoring criteria for a range of assessment parameters.

Key Objectives

Profile requirements/qualifications:

 Training & Support

The candidate will receive training in necropsy protocols, statistical analysis, contaminant data interpretation and indicator development. Collaboration with Eurofins GfA Lab Service GmbH will provide exposure to state-of-the-art analytical technologies.

This research MSc opportunity provides coverage of EU University fees and a stipend of €22,000 per annum for no longer than 2.5 years. Under current ATU policy, Non‑EU fees do not apply to research students.

Application procedure:

Applications must include:

• A Curriculum Vitae (including 2 references and contact details of academic referees who may be contacted as part of the selection process)

• A personal statement, not exceeding 2 pages and explaining (i) how you meet or plan to meet the project’s requirements, (ii) what your motivation and interest in the topic are, with specific reference to details provided in this advert, and (iii) why you would like to pursue a MSc research programme in Ireland and ATU.

• Transcripts of degree results

Please ensure that all required documents are included and that your application is complete before submission.

Candidates should begin the MSc degree as soon as possible after receiving an offer.

Applications must be submitted as a single MS Word or PDF file (with subject line “Application to Necropsy and pollutant tender MSc”) to Dr Sinéad Murphy by email (sinead.murphy@atu.ie). 

Application Deadline:  Wednesday 18th February 2026, 5:00 pm

Application enquiries: Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr. Sinéad Murphy (sinead.murphy@atu.ie)

Cullen Scholarship: Modelling climate change impacts in Ireland’s marine ecosystem using the Atlantis model

The effects of climate change are increasingly apparent in ocean environments. Climate change poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems, necessitating enhanced understanding to adapt effectively for a changing future. The continental shelf and slope off Ireland have high levels of biodiversity and are considered of ecological importance for the different life history stages of many fish species. Historically, this region has supported significant demersal fisheries and since the mid-1990s, efforts to address historically low biomass and recruitment in several stocks have led to an overall decline in fishing pressure. However, many stocks remain overexploited. Fishing and climate change interact in multiple ways within the region. There is therefore a clear need to better understand marine ecosystem change holistically to ensure management plans can be put in place to protect marine biodiversity while sustainably providing marine ecosystem goods and services.

Ecosystem models allow a digital representation of the marine ecosystem that can be used to explore possible and coherent states of nature alongside different management scenarios and anthropogenic pressures. Atlantis is considered the most advanced ecosystem model available. Our overall aim in this Cullen Scholarship is to enhance Ireland’s ecosystem modelling capacity by contributing to the development of a Celtic Seas Atlantis model. We will focus on parameterising and testing the biological submodel. Our approach is systematic per trophic level: definitions, grouping, flux modelling, sensitivity, comparison with real data, and forcing with downscaled regional physical models. By developing all links from primary producers to higher trophic levels and human pressures we will illuminate the dynamics of the system allowing for holistically informed strategic management for a future of ocean change.

Specific objectives to be codeveloped with the PhD student are to:

1.      Review of Atlantis end-to-end ecosystem modelling with application to the Celtic Seas.

2.      Primary producer submodel calibration and projection under climate change scenarios.

3.      Zooplankton submodel calibration and projection under climate change scenarios.

4.      Understanding bottom-up drivers of forage fish dynamics in the Celtic Seas ecoregion.

5.      Understanding predation or competition release of higher trophic level species.

Requirements/Qualifications: The successful candidate will hold an Honours Degree with a minimum award classification of 2:1 or equivalent in a cognate discipline (Oceanography, Mathematics, Statistics, Marine Biology, or a related discipline). Demonstrated experience in scientific programming (e.g., R/C++/Python programming language), excellent quantitative/modelling skills and familiarity with data management will be a distinct advantage, as well as evidence of contributions to scientific publications.

Project Duration: 48 months

Conditions:

●       €25,000 tax-exempt stipend per annum.

●       Postgraduate fees will be covered by the project.

●       In addition, any necessary travel, material and open access publication costs incurred during the project will be covered.

If either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to web link English Language Requirements | ATU – Atlantic Technological University  to view the minimum English language proficiency standards for entry to ATU

Project Start Date: Spring 2026

Application Closing Date: February 27th 2026

Applicants should submit their:

–         Curriculum Vitae (to include details of 2 referees)

–         A copy of transcript of results

–         A Personal Statement

The Personal Statement should not exceed 1 page and must include details on:

●       How your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this PhD research programme

●       Why you would like to pursue this PhD research programme.

For further information on the project, please contact: Dr Cóilín Minto (coilin.minto@atu.ie), Dr Deirdre Brophy (deirdre.brophy@atu.ie), or Denise O’Sullivan (denise.osullivan@marine.ie) 

Data Protection Statement

ATU takes very seriously its legal obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018 to safeguard and protect your personal information in our possession. The personal information which you disclose to us in this form will only be used to assess your suitability; administer and register you for this scholarship. We will not keep your personal information for any longer than is necessary for those stated purposes. For more details, please refer to ATU’s Student Privacy Statement: Student-privacy-statement

This project (Grant-Aid Agreement No. CS/25/008) is carried out with the support of the Marine Institute and funded under the Marine Research Programme by the Government of Ireland.

Cullen Scholarship: Recruitment drivers for boarfish and other spasmodic stocks

Recruitment is the process of young fish transitioning to life stages that can be caught. It is one of the most important, though often most poorly understood processes regulating fish populations. Recruitment determines year-class strength, which in turn regulates stock size, subsequent reproduction and sustainable harvest levels. A combination of density-independent and density-dependent mortality and initial egg abundance defines a stock-recruit relationship. These are often typified by marked variability around a fitted relationship. For some populations, however, recruitment can be typically quite low and occasionally exceptionally high. These stocks are termed “spasmodic” recruiting stocks and are characterized by infrequent and irregularly occurring episodes of strong recruitment, followed by periods of weak recruitment. Boarfish, horse mackerel and blue whiting are all important commercial species displaying spasmodic recruitment to varying degrees.

These stocks challenge the estimation of reference points, appropriate harvest control rules and short-term forecasts. In this project, we will investigate possible recruitment mechanisms and effective management of spasmodic stocks by: 1) collecting new datasets in collaboration with the pelagic industry to expand our understanding of reproduction, larval distribution and diet; 2) investigating the relationships between early life history growth, dispersal and feeding and recruitment variability ; and 3) developing management strategy evaluations that: a) build operating models based on mechanistic understanding derived here; and b) develop and test appropriate management procedures, informed by stakeholders, that are capable of safeguarding reproduction, yield and stability of yield for spasmodic stocks

 Specific objectives to be codeveloped with the PhD student are to:

1.      Review spasmodic stock-recruitment relationships including potential drivers and management.

2.      Collect empirical data to improve understanding of the reproductive biology and recruitment of boarfish via at-sea and port sampling.

3.      Investigate links between recruitment variability and early life history growth.

4.      Investigate links between recruitment variability and early life history dispersal.

5.      Explore match-mismatch hypothesis for recruitment variability of boarfish (and possibly other spasmodic stocks).

6.      Investigate appropriate management procedures for spasmodically recruiting stocks within management strategy evaluations.

Requirements/Qualifications: The successful candidate will hold an Honours Degree with a minimum award classification of 2:1 or equivalent in a cognate discipline (Zoology, Marine Biology, Oceanography, Fisheries Science, Aquatic Ecology, or a related discipline). Demonstrated experience in sampling at sea, scientific programming (R programming language), good quantitative/modelling skills and familiarity with data management will be a distinct advantage, as well as evidence of contributions to scientific publications.

Project Duration: 48 months

Conditions:

●       €25,000 tax-exempt stipend per annum.

●       Postgraduate fees will be covered by the project.

●       In addition, any necessary travel, material and open access publication costs incurred during the project will be covered.

If either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to web link English Language Requirements | ATU – Atlantic Technological University  to view the minimum English language proficiency standards for entry to ATU

Project Start Date: Spring 2026

Application Closing Date: February 20th 2026

Applicants should submit their:

–         Curriculum Vitae (to include details of 2 referees)

–         A copy of transcript of results

–         A Personal Statement

The Personal Statement should not exceed 1 page and must include details on:

●       How your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this PhD research programme

●       Why you would like to pursue this PhD research programme.

For further information on the project, please contact: Dr Cóilín Minto (coilin.minto@atu.ie), Dr Deirdre Brophy (deirdre.brophy@atu.ie), Dr Edward Farrell (edward@kfo.ie) or Dr Andrew Campbell (andrew.campbell@marine.ie).

 Data Protection Statement

ATU takes very seriously its legal obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018 to safeguard and protect your personal information in our possession. The personal information which you disclose to us in this form will only be used to assess your suitability; administer and register you for this scholarship. We will not keep your personal information for any longer than is necessary for those stated purposes. For more details, please refer to ATU’s Student Privacy Statement: Student-privacy-statement

This project (Grant-Aid Agreement No. CS/25/008) is carried out with the support of the Marine Institute and funded under the Marine Research Programme by the Government of Ireland.

CHIMERA Project Ph.D. Fellowships

DESCRIPTION: These 2 PhD studentships are part of the collaborative and interdisciplinary Research Ireland funded CHIMERA project. Blue-Green biotechnologies encompass a range of activities such as biofuel generation, environmental bioremediation or the valorisation of high-added value chemicals from natural sources. As such, the metabolic properties of microalgae are actively researched worldwide. Here, CHIMERA will focus on investigating the bioactivity attributes of microalgal species isolated from the west of Ireland to characterise those with high potential for market-oriented biotechnological applications, with an emphasis on high-value metabolites such as antioxidant, cytotoxic or antimicrobial compounds.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS: Motivated candidates with strong interests in applied microbiology, cell biology and biotechnology must have a Honours Degree (minimum 2.1 BSc) (essential) and/or a M.Sc. (desirable) in relevant disciplines. One position on offer will focus on “Microbiology” themes while the other one will have a “Human Cell Culture” remit. Candidates with prior practical experience in microbiology (eg. antimicrobial assays), analytical chemistry (eg. GC/MS), microalgal physiology (eg. photoautotrophic cultivation), cell biology (eg. human cell culture and assays) and/or molecular biology (eg. transcriptomics) will be considered favourably. Only candidates with a valid European passport are eligible for these positions as international fees cannot be paid from the available funding. If English is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency will be required.

EXPECTED STARTING DATE: From March 2026.

TO APPLY: Please send by email 1) a detailed cover letter addressing how your prior experience aligns with this project and your motivation for pursuing a PhD at ATU Sligo, 2) full curriculum vitae and 3) contact details of two academic referees (who may be contacted as part of the selection process) to Dr. Nicolas Touzet (nicolas.touzet@atu.ie). Please insert the subject line ‘CHIMERA’ with your electronic correspondence.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 17:00 local time, 27th of February 2026.

FUNDING SOURCE: Research Ireland

STIPEND: €25,000 per annum + institutional registration and tuition fees for 4 years.

Investigating Food Web Dynamics & Environmental Change in a Deep Humic Lake

Lough Feeagh is a deep, oligotrophic humic lake located within the Burrishoole catchment on the west coast of Ireland. is the catchment is an internationally important long-term ecological monitoring site, with over 70 years of diadromous fish records (Atlantic salmon, Brown trout and European eel) and extensive high-frequency monitoring of lake and river physico-chemistry, plankton and hydrology. Lough Feeagh is a key reference site within the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) and is widely used to study the impacts of climate and land-use change on freshwater ecosystems.

This PhD will investigate food web dynamics and environmental change within this deep humic lake. The project will utilise long-term datasets collected by the Marine Institute to quantify trophic structure, energy flows and ecosystem functioning within the lake. The student will investigate how environmental pressures, including climate-driven warming, changing stratification, and catchment land-use change (e.g. forestry cessation and rewilding) influence food web dynamics and key species.

The research will involve defining functional groups across the lake ecosystem (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, fish and microbial components), compiling and analysing long-term biological and environmental datasets, and constructing an Ecopath food web model. Dynamic Ecosim simulations will then be used to explore ecosystem responses to scenarios such as rising water temperatures, altered carbon inputs, changes in fish populations, and shifts in plankton communities.

The PhD student will be based primarily at the Marine Institute’s research station in Newport, Co. Mayo and will work closely with Marine Institute staff and the ATU supervisors. The project offers training in ecosystem modelling, freshwater and fisheries ecology, statistical analysis in R, and field and laboratory techniques, and will contribute to improved understanding of ecosystem responses to environmental change, with direct relevance to freshwater management, fisheries conservation and nature restoration in Ireland.

 Requirements/Qualifications:

Minimum requirements

·       An Honours Degree (minimum 2.1 BSc) or MSc in Marine or Environmental Science, Zoology, Ecology, or a related discipline.

·       Strong quantitative skills, including data handling and statistical analysis

·       An Interest in ecosystem modelling, freshwater ecology and climate impacts

·       Fluency in spoken and written English (consult language requirements for ATU students HERE).

·       A full (international EU) driving licence.

 Additional desirable requirements:

·       Experience with R or other statistical software

·       Knowledge of aquatic ecology, fish biology or limnology

·       Experience with modelling tools (Ecopath/Ecosim, population models, or similar)

·       Experience with GIS, stable isotopes, or stomach content analysis

·       Excellent field and laboratory skills.

 Project Duration: 48 months

Project Start Date: No later than 31st May 2026

Application Closing Date: Friday 20th February 2026 with interviews to take place in March 2026

 Application Procedure:

Applicants should submit their:

·       Curriculum Vitae (to include details of 2 referees)

·       A copy of transcript of results

·       A Personal Statement

 The Personal Statement should not exceed 2 pages and should include an outline of:

Ø    How you meet the requirements of the position

Ø    Why you would like to pursue this PhD research programme

Conditions:

·       €25,000 Stipend per annum.

·       Postgraduate fees for EU students of €6,000 per annum* will be covered by the project

·       Any necessary national and international travel and material costs incurred during the project will be covered by the project.

*Please Note: Candidates from outside the EU are eligible to apply, but will be expected to provide evidence of sources of additional funds to cover excesses associated with Non-EU fees.

 Project Start Date: No later than 31st May 2026

Application Closing Date: Friday 20th February 2026 with interviews to take place in March 2026

Applications must be submitted to louise.vaghan@atu.ie e-mail address only. Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file.

For further information on the project, please contact: Dr Louise Vaughan (louise.vaughan@atu.ie)

Data Protection Statement

ATU takes very seriously its legal obligations as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018 to safeguard and protect your personal information in our possession. The personal information which you disclose to us in this form will only be used to assess your suitability; administer and register you for this scholarship. We will not keep your personal information for any longer than is necessary for those stated purposes. For more details, please refer to ATU’s Student Privacy Statement: https://www.atu.ie/app/uploads/2024/12/privacy-notice-for-students.pdf

The Plastic Pulse: Linking Flood Events, Nature-Based Solutions, and Spatiotemporal Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Catchments.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and strongly motivated graduate to undertake an a 2-year funded Research MSc as part of a collaboration in the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre at Atlantic Technological University, based at our Mountbellew campus in Galway.

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is one of the most important pieces of legislation in relation to water quality in EU member states. Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to the biodiversity and ecological integrity of aquatic environments, impacting both natural habitats and the communities that rely on them. Rivers are critical pathways for plastic debris transport, making it crucial to intervene in rivers to prevent pollution from reaching marine ecosystems. Nature-based solutions (NbS), using nature (biodiversity) and natural processes, have been employed worldwide to address diverse socio-environmental issues.

The project will aim to:

Explore the applicability of current NbS in flood prevention for the dual purpose of mitigating the movement of plastics into waterways within an agroecosystem.

Assess the plastic pollution and how these challenges are exacerbated by climate change through alterations in hydrologic patterns, ecosystem dynamics, and retention capacities.

Requirements/Qualifications:

·        The successful candidate must hold an Honours Degree (First or 2:1) in a cognate discipline (Freshwater Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Geography or a related discipline).

·        Experience of aquatic fieldwork is required.

·        Knowledge of freshwater ecology and plastic pollution

·        Good organisational and management skills.

·        Ability to work as part of a team.

·        Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

·         Demonstrated experience in statistical software packages such as PRIMER, and ArcGIS,

·        A full clean (International EU) driving licence.

 The candidate will be expected to work on their own initiative and be willing to acquire the broader skills necessary for the successful completion of a MSc project. 

Applicants should submit:

–         Curriculum Vitae (to include 2 referees)

–         A copy of transcript of results

–         A Personal Statement (max 1 page) outlining:

o  How you meet the requirements of the position

o  Why you would like to pursue this MSc research programme.

 Applications must be submitted to roisin.nash@atu.ie e-mail address only (with subject line “Application to Interreg scholarship”). Please ensure all documents are emailed as a single Word or PDF file. 

Funding Notes:

This MSc.is funded under INTERREG Atlantic Area programme.

Conditions:

·        €25,000 Stipend per annum.

·        Postgraduate fees for EU and non-EU students will be covered by the project.

·        In addition, any necessary travel and material costs incurred during the project will be covered.

·        The student will be based at the Mountbellew campus, Co. Galway and will have access to facilities at the MFRC, ATU Galway City, Dublin Road Campus. 

If either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to web link: English Language and Entry requirements to view the minimum English language proficiency standards for entry to ATU

Project Start Date: March 2026

Application Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 30th January 2026

Designing together, co-producing the conditions for effective community-led public service delivery.

Key Dates

Submission Deadline: 26 February 2026

Interview Dates: Mid-March 2026

Start Dates: May-June 2026. A CO-CREATE Summer School induction will occur in June 2026 which PhD students will be required to attend.

Summary

Atlantic Technological University Donegal invites applications for a full-time funded PhD studentship as part of Co-Create Ireland: Art and Design Research Network for Inclusive Futures (CO-CREATE), a €4m cross border research project supported by the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme. 

PhD Description

This research explores the potential of a co-production model of service design delivery within the community services sector in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), National College of Art and Design (NCAD), North West Community Network (NWCN), and the Department for Communities (DfC). The study seeks to understand if collaborative frameworks between communities and government could enable innovative, community-led “in-sourcing” of public services, where local groups co-design, deliver, and sustain services traditionally ‘outsourced’ to external agencies or companies.

Building on European and Irish precedents such as Co-Creation of Service Innovation in Europe (EU) and Innovating Communities (ROI), insights from research carried out by NWCN and the Ideas Fund, as well as examples like The Traveller Primary Health Programme (ROI), The Markets Community Development Association (Belfast) and Afrikaanderwijk Cooperative (NL), this project aims to expand and localise these models through a design research lens. By integrating creative, socially engaged, and participatory design methods, the research will generate grounded insights into how communities can effectively co-produce services, examples could be:  childcare, social enterprise development, or wellbeing initiatives.

The methodology will combine service design approaches (co-discovery, prototyping, iterative design), framed within theories of participatory governance. The research will involve relevant parties such as community organisations, government representatives, and service users, in every stage: co-planning, co-discovering, co-designing, co-delivering, and co-evaluating. This iterative process will not only map barriers to community-led in-sourcing from both government and community perspectives but also identify enabling conditions such as trust, capacity-building, and shared accountability.

This project aligns with Better Public Services: Public Service Transformation Strategy 2030, responding directly to policy imperatives for innovation and inclusion in public service delivery. The project will also contribute to the objectives of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities 2019–2024 (ROI) and the People and Place Strategy (NI), supporting community organisations to co-create services that reflect local priorities while advancing sustainable development goals.

Ultimately, this PhD will produce a transferable framework for co-produced community service design, offering practical tools and policy recommendations to strengthen democratic participation, enhance service effectiveness, and empower communities to take ownership of local service delivery.

Essential Criteria

The successful PhD candidate will have:

Prior publications and experience in the fields mentioned above are assets but not a requirement.

Desirable Criteria

If Atlantic Technological University Donegal receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

In depth knowledge of the lived experience of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Racialised, and/or otherwise Global Majority people, disabled people, trans people, people exiting a career break,

Key Responsibilities of the Candidate

Co-Create

CO-CREATE will establish an all-island partnership which researches and advances the role citizen-centric art and design research can play in responding to the polycrisis, addressing intersecting cultural and environmental challenges and the increasing role fragmentation of social cohesion plays in exacerbating them. CO-CREATE aims to engage the creativity of diverse communities and foster forms of co-created research that will help to drive societal transformation and cultivate inclusivity in public services, climate action, health and heritage. The programme will offer opportunities for PhD students to develop new projects through engaged collaboration with an extensive cross-border network of researchers, cultural institutions, industry partners, community groups and public bodies. 

Recruited PhD students will be part of the all-island CO-CREATE Doctoral Network, linking researchers working across the National College of Art and Design, University of Ulster, University of Limerick and Atlantic Technological University. As part of the CO-CREATE Doctoral Network, students will benefit from:

Equal Opportunities / EDI Statement

We honour our obligations under the Employment Equality Acts (1998-2015) and under the Public Sector Equality Duty. Discrimination on account of the protected grounds (Gender, Marital Status, Family Status, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race, and Membership of the Traveller Community) is not tolerated in any means.

We actively encourage those who have been underrepresented in Higher Education to apply. This includes but is not limited to: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Racialised, and/or otherwise Global Majority applicants, disabled applicants, trans applicants, applicants exiting a career break, applicants with caring responsibilities, care-experienced applicants, and LGBT+ and queer applicants.

Funding 

This project is funded by the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme. 

This PhD scholarship will provide:

Eligibility

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. 

This is a full-time PhD studentship, only applicants who are available to undertake a full-time degree will be considered. 

Cross-border collaboration is an essential part of CO-CREATE, and as such, applicants to CO-CREATE PhD studentships must be able to travel regularly and freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland (UK). Applicants must specify whether they have a citizenship, residency or status which allows them to travel freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

Doctoral Study at Atlantic Technological University, Donegal 

How to Apply

There will be an online information session for interested applicants for CO-CREATE PhDs on Monday, 12 January 4-5pm. You can register for the session at the following link. This session will provide interested applicants with general information about the CO-CREATE project and the CO-CREATE Doctoral Network. It will also feature a Q&A portion where applicants can raise questions about the advertised PhD projects. 

If applicants have questions, they can contact the supervisory team, or relevant research office of the higher education institution they are making an application to. Applicants should not contact partner organisations directly about the studentships. 

To apply for PhD- please submit to isobel.cunningham@atu.ie

A Curriculum Vitae (including qualifications, or exam results to date (if degree is incomplete), 2 references and contact details who may be contacted as part of the selection process)

A 1 page personal statement outlining your motivation, suitability and capacity to undertake the PhD studentship

Contact details of two referees

Supervisory Team

Dr. Isobel Cunningham: Atlantic Technological University

Crona O’Donoghue: Atlantic Technological University

Dr. Caoimhe Mc Mahon: National College of Art and Design

Co-Designing and Co-Evaluating Collective Climate Action Pathways Implemented by Irish Local Authorities Using Behavioural Insights, Living Labs, and National Climate Action Plan Data

Duration: 4 years (Full-time)
Location: Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Sligo Campus
Expected Start Date: 1st September 2026

This PhD project, supervised by Dr. Salem Gharbia at the Department of Environmental Science, Atlantic Technological University, will investigate how local authorities, community stakeholders, and government departments coordinate and deliver climate actions across Ireland. As climate action plans become increasingly detailed and ambitious, a major national challenge now lies not in planning but in implementation, as governance structures, behavioural factors, decision-making processes, and interdepartmental collaboration shape the success of climate delivery. The PhD will develop a robust analytical and practical framework to understand and improve how collective climate actions are organised, prioritised, and supported at local levels. This will include mapping governance structures, evaluating roles and responsibilities across sectors (Energy, Transport, Land Use & Nature, Water & Coastal Management), and identifying barriers to collaboration and collective action. A strong emphasis will be placed on behavioural dimensions of climate delivery, such as visibility of climate actions, perceived fairness, coordination friction, and stakeholder trade-offs.

A central aspect of the project will be the creation of living labs with local authority staff and community groups. These participatory environments will support the co-design and testing of practical tools, templates, behavioural experiments, and collaborative decision-making simulations. Techniques may include climate investment simulations, proximity bias experiments, Agent-based modelling and diagnostic assessments of coordination effectiveness. Outputs will help develop actionable strategies, insights, and resources that strengthen climate action delivery across Ireland.

This PhD project will be fully funded by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and will be based at the ATU Sligo campus within the Department of Environmental Science. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Salem Gharbia, joining an active research group focused on climate modelling and collaborative climate action. Funding will cover full tuition fees and a stipend of €22,000 per year to support living costs over the four-year programme.

Deadline: 28th February 2026

To be considered please forward a Cover Letter, CV, copies of transcripts, minimum 2:1 Honors Degree in the respective field, copy of Degree Certificate and proof of English Language proficiency to salem.gharbia@atu.ie

Please submit all documents stated above in one PDF attached document with the name of the applicant as the title of the file. Shared files will not be considered.

Co-Created Monitoring and Modelling of Climate-Driven Trihalomethane Risks in Irish Drinking Water using Integrated Low-Cost Sensors, Citizen Science, and GIS for Adaptive Water Management

Duration: 4 years (Full-time)
Location: Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Sligo Campus
Expected Start Date: 1st September 2026

This PhD project, supervised by Dr. Salem Gharbia at the Department of Environmental Science, Atlantic Technological University, will investigate how climate change influences the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) in Irish drinking water systems. THMs, regulated disinfection by-products arising from chlorination, pose significant public health risks, and their occurrence in Ireland has been intensifying due to climate-driven changes in temperature, precipitation, organic matter loading, and land-use dynamics. Building on existing scientific evidence and national concerns about “at-risk” drinking water supplies, this research will develop an integrated, GIS-based modelling framework to predict THM formation under future climate conditions and support adaptive water treatment strategies. A distinctive feature of this PhD will be the incorporation of citizen science, low-cost water quality sensors, and living-lab co-creation environments. The formed living lab community by this project will collaborate in monitoring key water-quality parameters (e.g., temperature, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon proxies) using validated low-cost sensing technologies and citizen science campaigns deployed in catchments and distribution networks. These participatory data streams will enhance spatial and temporal coverage, feed directly into GIS and machine-learning models, and support the co-design of context-appropriate interventions. Through the living-lab approach, stakeholders will engage in iterative model validation, scenario exploration, and evaluation of adaptive treatment and source-protection strategies.

This PhD project will be fully funded by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and will be based at the ATU Sligo campus within the Department of Environmental Science. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. Salem Gharbia, joining an active research group focused on climate impacts and environmental modelling. Funding will cover full tuition fees, along with a stipend of €22,000 per year to support living costs for 4 years.

Deadline: 28th February 2026

To be considered please forward a Cover Letter, CV, copies of transcripts, minimum 2:1 Honors Degree in the respective field, copy of Degree Certificate and proof of English Language proficiency to salem.gharbia@atu.ie

Please submit all documents stated above in one PDF attached document with the name of the applicant as the title of the file. Shared files will not be considered.