The project involves development of novel microbial testing and microbial safety assessment systems based on optical oxygen sensing, their testing and deployment on premises of Irish producers of raw meat products. The researcher will be hosted in the Biophysics and Bioanalysis lab, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC, and will work together with a PhD student also funded from this project. The candidate must have a PhD degree and relevant research experience in analytical biochemistry, food microbiology and food safety, sensors, analytical method development. He/she should also have experience in supervising postgraduate students and good managerial skills to act as project manager. Project work envisages visits to industrial and academic partners and performing experiments on their premises, therefore possession of a car and clean driver’s licence is an essential requirement.

The successful candidate is expected to be creative, self-motivated, and should fit an efficient and friendly atmosphere of the Biophysics and Bioanalysis lab of Prof. Dmitri B. Papkovsky and the Packaging lab of Prof. Joe Kerry (Food Science and Nutrition, UCC). This position will offer great opportunities to become visible to the Irish food and technology industry.

Further information on the hosting lab profile and its research:

• Kelly CA et al – Sensors, 2018, 18, 1395.
• Banerjee S et al – Trends Food Sci Technol, 2016, 50: 85.
• http://publish.ucc.ie/researchprofiles/D003/dpapkovsky

Key Duties and Responsibilities

This title will apply to newly qualified Post-Doctoral Researchers and will be considered as a period of training as the researcher will have dual goals in terms of the research project and their own career development. The researcher will be mentored by a Principal Investigator (PI). It is expected that a researcher would spend not more than 3 years at the Post Doctoral level, subject to the term of the project and would then be eligible to compete for a Senior Post Doctoral post advertised by the University.

The primary focus of the Postdoctoral Researcher will be research however a particular emphasis during this stage should include;

• To conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator/Project Leader.
• To engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, School or College in order to develop research skills and competencies.
• To gain experience in grant writing.
• To engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of a Principal Investigator.
• To become familiar with the publication process.
• To acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision).
• To engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group, School or College.
• To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in their day to day research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• To carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
• To carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
• To contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of a research project.

CRITERIA

• A PhD qualification.
• Appropriate research experience.
• Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
• A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
• Good communication, organisation and interpersonal skills.
• A commitment to gaining practical experience working on a research project.
• Ability to work well within a team.
• Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

For Informal Enquiries on the post candidates should contact: Dmitri Papkovsky,  Professor of Biochemistry, d.papkovsky@ucc.ie