Research Opportunities

PhD Opportunities

PhD Opportunity: Smart Milking for a Sustainable Future

This four-year Teagasc Walsh Scholarship PhD, jointly hosted by Teagasc Moorepark and University College Dublin, focuses on enhancing sustainability and milk quality in modern Irish dairy farms through smart milking technologies.

The project will examine how milking machine performance and farmer interactions with technology impact udder health, somatic cell count, and milk recording accuracy. Using field trials, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement, the research will generate practical guidelines tailored to Irish conditions—aiming to improve herd health, reduce antibiotic usage, and promote sustainable dairy production.

Key details:

Location: Teagasc Moorepark, Co. Cork & University College Dublin
Funding: €31,000 per annum (includes stipend and tuition)
Start Date: As soon as possible after 1st September 2025
Requirements: 2.1 or higher in a relevant field (e.g., veterinary medicine, animal science, ag engineering), strong analytical skills, full driving licence
Desirable: MSc, experience in dairy/milking tech, statistical tools

How to apply:
Submit your CV and letter of interest to:

Dr. John Upton: (opens in a new window)John.Upton@teagasc.ie
Dr. Eoin Ryan: (opens in a new window)eoin.g.ryan@ucd.ie

Closing date: 30 June 2025

Full description is available at this link .

PhD Opportunity: Modelling Bovine Tuberculosis Transmission

We are inviting applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD project at UCD, beginning in September 2025, titled “The transmission of bovine tuberculosis: deciphering biological mechanisms with statistical and mechanistic models.” This interdisciplinary project, supervised by Dr Miriam Casey (Veterinary Medicine) and Dr Michael Fop (Mathematics & Statistics), uses dynamic transmission of infection modelling and statistical techniques to better understand and control the spread of bovine TB in Ireland. The successful applicant will receive an annual stipend of €25,000, plus an additional €4,000 for training, travel and equipment, with PhD fees fully covered.

PDF of PhD Opportunity: Modelling Bovine Tuberculosis Transmission

Visit the UCD HR website for the latest job vacancies information