Ireland Job Openings

Teagasc

Plant Breeding Technician

Carlow

FULL TIME

October 21, 2024

Location: Crop Science Dept, Oak Park, Carlow

Technician

Salary: Technician Grade 1 with a Salary Scale of €35,946 to €46,985

Closing Date: 04/11/2024 12:00 PM

Funded Full Time

Job Description

Duration:
Temporary externally funded non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 6 months, subject to contract. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.
Basic Function:
The technician will contribute to developing a capacity to make crosses between potato lines through developing a protocol for extraction of viable pollen for transfer to Kenyan partners, establish a capacity for out of season crossing under controlled conditions, and participate in performing and analyzing molecular marker assays for the project.

Background:
CRRISP (Climate Resilient and Responsible Innovations in Potato) is an international project funded under the FOSC ERANET programme, with Teagasc funding originating from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM). With partners and collaborators in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Kenya, South Africa and Peru, CRRISP seeks to understand of the effect climate change will have on potato value chains and to develop mitigation steps from the perspectives of breeding, agronomy and socioeconomic adaptations (https://www.foscera.net/en/foscera/projects/crrisp.htm )
This post will contribute to the breeding aspect of the project, which is a collaboration between Teagasc, the Kenyan Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the International Potato Centre (CIP). The breeding component of the project will develop a foundation breeding population in Kenya by crossing European varieties with favourable processing characteristics and disease resistance, with locally adapted lines suitable for sub-Saharan African production systems, and performing marker-assisted and genomic selection assays on the population to assist future exploitation.

Job Objectives

Complete research tasks in the area of developing a capacity to enable harvesting of viable pollen and performing targeted crosses between potato varieties in glasshouse and controlled environment facilities.
Perform, analyse and manage molecular marker assays (locus specific KASP assays and genome-wide assays) for MAS and GS, and manage and analyse the data coming from these assays.
Record and collate data from trial and/or research work conducted.
Support project leader(s) and collaborators with the completion of milestones and deliverables related to Teagasc activities in the project.
Support the completion of research tasks on time and to the required scientific standard to ensure datasets support dissemination to partners and stakeholders and publication of results in appropriate media.
Health & Safety Co-ordinator Duties or such other Health & Safety Duties as may be assigned from time to time.
To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time to assist other teams in the department as required.

This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

Skills Requirement

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

A Level 6 qualification, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in plant sciences or a related scientific discipline.

A higher level qualification and/or experience working in a plant breeding or agronomy setting

Skills

Basic laboratory skills and ability to complete and validate SOPs
Demonstrated experience in handling and assessing pollen samples
Demonstrated experience in performing and analysing molecular marker assays
Demonstrated experience of data management in a plant breeding and genetics environment
Demonstrated experience in planning and managing glasshouse trials in a breeding and genetics environment
Demonstrated experience in managing crossing and hybridization of crop plants

Demonstrated experience in using the R statistical programming environment

Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge and an in-depth understanding of crop plant breeding, operating in both glasshouse and field environment

Specific previous experience in potato breeding/genetics

Behavioural Competencies

Excellent interpersonal skills
Ability to work as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building relationships with key partners. This role will also require the candidate to assist and provide technical support to collaborators as required by the team leader.
Has the ability to problem solve and demonstrates a high level of attention to detail.
Demonstrates positive approach to new challenges and dissemination of new tasks.

Other

As this role will involve driving vehicles, candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads.

Eligibility

This is an open public competition. Should a current serving Teagasc staff member be successful in their application through open public competition for this post, their current contract of employment with Teagasc will come to an end on taking up this post.

Note: The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion
At all levels in Teagasc, we believe in growing and keeping alive an open, diverse and inclusive workplace which is respectful to all and nurtures different perspectives, for the benefit of all in the organisation.
We are commited to the principles of 'Equal Opportunities, No Barriers, Active Inclusion'.
We actively welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

New Job Alerts

FreightSpeed Transport Ltd

South Dublin Rigid Truck Driver

FULL TIME & PART TIME

November 7, 2024

View Job Description

Tidy Mechanical Repairs

Bookkeeper/Administration Part time

Cork

PART TIME

November 7, 2024

View Job Description

Big Bus Tours

On-Street Tour Supervisor

Dublin

FULL TIME

November 7, 2024

View Job Description

Secret Recipe Limited

Sales Lead Generator

Ballincollig

PART TIME

November 7, 2024

View Job Description

Teagasc

Post-Doctoral Fellow Level 1 (PD 1) – Plant Protein Extraction

Fermoy

FULL TIME

September 5, 2024

View Job Description

Adtec Aerauto Ltd

Heavy Goods Mechanic/Plant Fitter

Navan

FULL TIME

August 29, 2024

View Job Description

Murphy Ireland

Excavator/Plant Operator

Dublin

Contract Technologist - Mastitis Specialist

Fermoy

FULL TIME

October 21, 2024

View Job Description

Teagasc

Plant Breeding Technician

Carlow

Lucan

November 7, 2024

View Job Description