PhD Studentship in in Environmental Microbial Genomics

Ireland: PhD Studentship in in Environmental Microbial Genomics, University College Dublin

A PhD studentship is available within the School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin (http://www.ucd.ie/bioenvsci/index.html). The project will focus on the isolation of novel anti-phytopathogenic agents from soil microbes using functional metagenomics. The student and a postdoctoral scientist will create and screen a soil metagenome library and assess the ability of clones within this library to suppress the growth of several well characterised phytopathogenic fungi. The candidate will preferably have good molecular biology skills and will be joining the UCD Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions group. This group use functional genomics, cell biology, proteomic, and screening techniques to identify antifungal organisms and characterise their antifungal activity. The Project is part of a collaboration involving the research groups of Dr Fiona Doohan from the School of Biology & Environmental Science at University College Dublin, Prof. Alan Dobson from the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork and Dr Julian Marchesi from the School of Biosciences, at Cardiff University, in Wales. The postdoctoral scientist will be located at the ERI and it is anticipated that the PhD student will also spend a period of time at the ERI; the ERI are currently using metagenomic methods in a variety of environmental settings to explore the potential of microbial communities to provide novel products and products with biotechnological applications.

The Project is funded by the Irish Department of Agriculture & Food through the Research Stimulus Fund Programme.

This is a three year PhD studentship, and it provides annual funding of €21,000 - €25,000 (to cover both fees and stipend). Please send a current CV and cover letter, together with the names of 2 academic referees to Dr. Fiona Doohan, School of Biology and Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: +353-1-7162248, email fiona.doohan@ucd.ie

The closing date for receipt of applications is October 22nd, 2008.

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