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Postgraduate Research Vacancies

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

Population genetics of the Irish white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) using traditional and non-invasive eDNA methods and investigation into potential resistance to the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci

Institution:                        Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland

Location:                           ATU Galway (50%) and Marine Institute HQ Rinville, Galway (50%)

Application deadline:    Not later than Friday 23rd of January 2026.

Short description

An exciting four-year (CULLEN) PhD scholarship is available to take part in an applied research collaboration between the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and the Marine Institute (Galway), in Ireland. This full-time research opportunity will aim at using molecular genetics and biochemistry techniques to generate high-impact scientific evidence for the conservation and management of Irish white clawed crayfish. The key tasks of this research will be to (i) characterise the genetic diversity and population structure of Irish white clawed crayfish, (ii) implement established protocols for environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of both crayfish and associated water-borne pathogens, (iii) apply ecological modelling to understand population connectivity and colonisation patterns, (iv) address epidemiology aspects and spread of ongoing outbreaks of crayfish plague in Ireland and (v) collaborate with government agencies and conservation stakeholders. The project will involve field sampling in riverine ecosystems across Ireland (e.g. National Crayfish Plague Surveillance Programme and crayfish monitoring campaigns) and laboratory work (e.g. population genetics, ecological modelling and eDNA analysis). Prior experience with basic molecular biology and/or biochemistry is desirable, but training will be provided to the PhD candidate.

Background and project details

Research topic

The White-Clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes (WCC hereafter), is an endangered freshwater crayfish species found in Europe, from the Iberian peninsula to Croatia and up north to the UK. WCC are classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List and the Irish population is considered to be of substantial conservation importance within Europe. Under Irish and European legislation; WCC is listed on Annex II and Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive, hence 15 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) have been designated in Ireland.

Populations of WCC have suffered significant declines across its distribution range in Europe. The most significant threats to WCC are pathogens, competition with non-indigenous crayfish species and habitat degradation. One of the most important causes of WCC declines are outbreaks and mass mortality caused by a water mould (Aphanomyces astacii) also known as crayfish plague, which is a notifiable disease whose occurrence and spread is currently monitored the Fish Health Unit of the Marine Institute, as the competent authority and national reference laboratory in Ireland.

Population genetic structure of Irish WCC remains poorly understood, however preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA data showed levels of diversity comparable to mainland European populations as well as significant population differentiation within Ireland, which should be further elucidated for management and conservation of Irish WCC populations. This is particularly important in view of potential restocking and/or translocation programmes, which should be mindful of any underlying genetic structure.

The main objectives of the project will be to:

The following research objectives are envisaged:

1.            Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant WCC literature and associated genetic resources, including latest protocols for genetic data acquisition and analysis, as well as establishing a reference database with all existing genetic data.

2.            Develop and implement a mitogenome sequencing protocol for WCC to better capture genetic variation in Irish WCC and to generate a permanent genetic resource.

3.            Conduct a population genetic and phylogeography study of WCC in Ireland using nuclear and mitochondrial markers to provide recommendations on conservation and management.

4.            Implement environmental DNA (eDNA) tools to monitor distribution of WCC, pathogens and potential vectors to aid the understanding of pathogen spread dynamics and the identification of potential ark sites.

5.            Investigate the immune resistance mechanisms that contribute to the survival of Irish WCC populations exposed to previous crayfish plague outbreaks by characterizing their immune proteins.

Foreseen key responsibilities:

• Conduct field work for sample collection, including participation to the National Crayfish Plague Surveillance Programme;

• Conduct molecular laboratory procedures, including protein/DNA/eDNA extraction, DNA quantification, PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis, microsatellite genotyping, mitogenome sequencing using High Throughput Sequencing technologies, Sanger sequencing and proteomic analysis;

• Execute analytical pipelines using dedicated software packages (e.g. R);

• Establish and maintain a reference database for biological and genetic data;

• Maintain laboratory notebooks, research records and generate technical reports and data as required by the management team;

• Disseminate findings by means of conference/symposia contributions and publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Profile requirements/qualifications:

Minimum requirements:

• A Honours Degree (minimum 2.1 BSc) in Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or equivalent/relevant area.

• Some experience with basic molecular techniques such as Nucleic Acid extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis and/or basic biochemistry techniques.

• Expertise in either field and/or laboratory experimental design.

• Evidence of planning and executing concurrent tasks as an individual and as part of a research team.

• Must be fluent in spoken and written English (consult language requirements for ATU students HERE).

• Proficiency in communication, initiative, flexibility and organisational skills.

Additional desirable requirements:

• Publication track-record and strong technical report writing and presentation skills.

• Experience in DNA-based field approaches, including sample acquisition and nucleic acid isolation.

• Experience in DNA-based laboratory approaches, including quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and sample preparation for High Throughput Sequencing (HTS).

• Experience with eDNA analysis and associated bioinformatics.

• Experience with protein extraction and analysis.

• Experience working in a “clean room” environment and/or an accredited molecular laboratory (e.g. ISO17025 standard).

• Have a full (international EU) driving licence.

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 PhD research programme in Ireland and ATU/MI.

Applications must be submitted as a single MS Word or PDF file (with subject line “Application to WCC CULLEN scholarship”) to Dr Luca Mirimin by email (luca.mirimin@atu.ie). For further information on the project please contact Dr Luca Mirimin (luca.mirimin@atu.ie).

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. 

Supervisory Team

Dr. Isobel Cunningham: Atlantic Technological University

Crona O’Donoghue: Atlantic Technological University

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

Photonic-Inspired Federated Learning for Communication-Efficient Next Generation Radio Access Networks (NG-RANs)

The SPEAR centre Research Programme: Fully Funded PhD Opportunities in Integrated Photonics

Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Letterkenny Campus

In partnership with Ulster University, Tyndall National Institute, and Seagate Technology

Duration: 4 years (Full-time)

Expected Start Date: February 2026

Location: WiSAR Lab, ATU, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland

SPEAR Project Background and Description

The Semiconductor and Photonics Education and Research (SPEAR) Centre is a €8.5 million cross-border project which will provide ATU and UU access to an all-island network of research groups and industry partners with the strategic support of Tyndall, and with advisory support from Seagate Technology. The SPEAR Centre is a Photonics research, training and innovation response to challenges outlined in the EU Chips Act 2023 and to simultaneously address existing deficits in high-skill/high-value employment and research infrastructure in the border region.

The SPEAR Centre is designed to build research capacity in integrated photonics and semiconductor technologies, while developing Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s deep-tech innovation ecosystem. It aims to train the next generation of scientists and engineers to support growth in sectors such as healthcare, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, and sensor networks.

Key to this project will be doctoral training initiative consisting of 15 PhD students delivered in collaboration with Ulster University, Tyndall National Institute, and Seagate Technology, one of the global leaders in data storage and photonics innovation.

Four PhD students will be based at ATU Donegal and will join the collaborative Doctoral College with PHD students based in Ulster University and Tyndall National Institute. This will involve co-supervised research, joint training activities, summer schools, industry engagement, and access to advanced infrastructure. These fully funded PhDs provide the opportunity to conduct high-impact applied research while building valuable professional skills across academia and industry.

PhD Project Description

Project Title: Photonic-Inspired Federated Learning for Communication-Efficient Next Generation Radio Access Networks (NG-RANs)

This PhD project will develop a novel, communication-efficient Federated Learning (FL) framework for Next Generation Radio Access Networks (NG-RANs) by drawing inspiration from photonic and neuromorphic computing principles. Instead of frequent, data-heavy model updates, the proposed approach will use event-driven and sparse-update mechanisms so that learning updates are transmitted only when meaningful local changes occur. This will significantly reduce network congestion, lower latency, and enhance privacy.

The research will explore hierarchical learning across different network levels (user devices, radio units, distributed units, and central units), while addressing challenges such as network heterogeneity, limited edge resources, and security vulnerabilities. The outcome will be a scalable, privacy-preserving, and high-performance learning framework suitable for future 6G and intelligent edge networks, contributing to advances in telecommunications, IoT systems, and autonomous wireless infrastructure.

Candidate Requirements

Applications are invited from graduates who meet the following:

o Electronic Engineering/Electrical Engineering

o Photonics / Optical Engineering

o Telecommunications Engineering

o Data Science / Artificial Intelligence

o Computer Engineering

o Applied Computing

o Computer Science

o Or a closely related discipline

o Write technical reports and prepare scientific publications

o Deliver presentations to diverse audiences

o Work both independently and collaboratively in a research team

o Manage time and research tasks effectively

Desirable Skills and Experience

This PhD position offers:

Full coverage of EU/UK academic fees

Tax-free stipend of €25,000 per annum for four years

Project-related research expenses and travel support

These positions are funded by PEACEPLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit their application as a single PDF document to: fiona.barrett@atu.ie

Subject line: SPEAR PhD Application – Your Name

The PDF should include:

  1. A one-page cover letter indicating your preferred research theme and your motivation
  2. A CV (maximum 2 pages)
  3. Academic transcripts
  4. Contact details for two academic referees

Application Deadline:

9th January 2026. Early application is strongly recommended.

Informal Enquiries: Dr Shagufta Henna – shagufta.henna@atu.ie

ATU is committed to supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all research activities.

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.

PhD in Applied freshwater ecology

Principal Investigators: Prof. Frances Lucy, Dr. Luca Mirimin, Dr. Nicolas Touzet.
Duration: Funded for 3 years, full-time.
Funding Source: PEACEPLUS FLOW PROJECT

Description

This applied ecology studentship is part of a larger collaborative and interdisciplinary mission within the EU-funded (SEUPB PeacePlus) “For the Love of Our Waters” (FLOW) project. The FLOW project aims to address declining water quality in cross border Ireland & Northern Ireland priority catchments in support of the 3rd Cycle of River Basin Management Plans (2021-2027). The PhD student will carry out research on water quality analysis (chemical and biochemical), species (micro- and macrobial) monitoring by means of eDNA analysis, as well as take part in biodiversity/heritage/water literacy outreach initiatives. The student will be based in CERIS (ATU Sligo), but will also conduct part of their work in the MFRC (ATU Galway). A substantial amount of field work and travel across Ireland and Northern Ireland is expected from the start of the
fellowship. This will also include stakeholder engagement such as landowners, farmers or schools. Attendance and contribution to international scientific conferences and publication of peer-review scientific papers is also envisaged. Activities will encompass field work, sampling, water sample analysis (e.g. water quality parameters, phytoplankton/cyanobacteria characterisation, eDNA analysis) as well as engaging with
community stakeholders groups, contributing to literature review, statistical analysis, data interpretation, report writing and dissemination of findings.

Stipend: €24,000 per annum + institutional registration and tuition fees for 3 years.

Profile Requirements: Motivated candidates with strong interests in environmental science and aquatic microbial ecology must have a Honours Degree (minimum 2.1 BSc) (essential) and/or a M.Sc. (desirable) in relevant disciplines. Appropriate training will be provided. However, candidates with prior practical experience in microbiology (e.g. water quality assays), analytical chemistry (e.g. HPLC), microalgal biology (e.g. photoautotrophic cultivation) and/or molecular biology (e.g. real time PCR and/or eDNA metabarcoding) will be considered favourably. A valid driving licence from a European country is essential. Scholarship fees will be covered in full for candidates with European citizenship, but not for non-European citizens. If English is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to this web link to consult ATU’s English language proficiency standards.

Expected Start Date: October 2025 (pending funding availability).

To Apply: Please send by email 1) a detailed cover letter addressing how your priorexperience aligns with this project and your motivation for pursuing a PhD in CERIS/MFRC/ATU, 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 ‘Application to FLOW PhD position’ with your electronic correspondence.

This research is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Closing date for applications: 17:00 local time, 20th of September 2025.

AIMINGPEAT Research Project: Funded PhD Opportunity on Predicting CO2 Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands

Project Title: “Advanced Integrated Measurements and Modelling Approaches for Predicting Carbon Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands” – AIMINGPEAT, funded under the Irish EPA Research Programme 2021-2030.

Supervisor: Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie.

IF TWO SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY ON THE PLATFORM:

Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie.
Dr. Matthew Saunders saundem@tcd.ie.

OVERALL Project description:

Peatlands are significant carbon (C) reservoirs, with their C sink strength influenced by multiple factors. Despite historical losses, Ireland still possesses substantial peat resources but lacks a comprehensive system for accurately accounting for peatland emissions. Peatland ecosystems are crucial for national and international climate mitigation goals, especially in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 through restoration. The AIMINGPEAT project aims to improve carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emission/removal reporting for Irish peatlands and identify effective management interventions, focusing on the main drivers of GHG dynamics, especially in degraded and rehabilitated peatlands. The research under the AIMINGPEAT project further strives to introduce a comprehensive modelling framework encapsulating statistical/empirical and/or hybrid/coupled modelling approaches/tasks to using the biogeochemical process-based models. Modelling C exchange in rehabilitated/restored peatlands can be challenging due to their unique conditions and heterogeneous nature, and advanced modelling approaches are needed to address these challenges. While some country-specific emission factors have been incorporated into recent NIR, default Tier 1 emission factors are still used in the absence of specific data. The research under AIMINGPEAT project aims to tackle these gaps and has been designed to consider both CO2 and CH4 emissions/removals. The research focuses on improving current national inventory reporting (NIR) for CO2 and CH4, 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.

Overall Main Project Objectives:

Funded PhD Opportunity (Focusing on CO2 Emissions and Removals from Irish Peatlands):

Under the AIMINGPEAT research project, applications are invited for one separate funded PhD research opportunity on integrated measurements and modelling approaches for predicting C emissions and removals from Irish peatlands with main focus on CO2 emissions and removals.

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

Start date: No later than in 2025, earlier preferred.

Candidate Requirements:

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 2 referees, directly to Dr. Alina Premrov alina.premrov@atu.ie. 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.

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.

Please only apply if you are eligible for EU fees.

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

Application Deadline:  End of October 2025 (or until filled, with formal starting date no later than in 2025), earlier applications are preferred.

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

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.