Walsh Scholarship

PhD scholarship in microalgae biorefinery strategies at University College Dublin (UCD) and Teagasc Ashtown.

This is a fully funded Walsh Scholarship PhD opportunity focused on biorefinery strategies to extract high-value compounds from microalgae. The project is jointly supervised by Ronald Halim at UCD and Brijesh K. Tiwari at Teagasc, with the student based across both institutions and connected to the UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering, UCD Conway Institute, and the FutureFoodS consortium led by Wageningen University & Research.

The research aims to develop an innovative biorefinery approach to directly fractionate wet microalgal biomass into protein-rich and lipid-rich ingredients without costly drying. It sits at the intersection of microalgae biotechnology, food engineering, bioprocess engineering, and circular food systems, with applications in climate-resilient and sustainable food production.

Funding: €25,000 annual tax-free stipend, university fees covered, four-year structured doctoral programme, and opportunities for international research placement.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a 2.1 honours degree and/or a master's degree in biotechnology, chemical/bioprocess engineering, microbiology, or a cognate discipline. UCD English language requirements apply. Prior experience or publications in microalgae biotechnology are a strong advantage.

Deadline: 29 May 2026. The expected start date is September 2026.

How to apply: Submit the application via the official online portal. The application should include a CV and a 1–2 page statement of motivation and research fit. Informal queries can be sent to Ronald Halim at [email protected].