PhD Scholarship

University College Dublin is advertising two PhD opportunities and a related postdoc position on the Green Cell Factory project: Advancing Plant Cell Biotechnology for Sustainable Production of High-Value Metabolites.

The project is based in the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin and focuses on sustainable plant cell-based technologies, plant cell culture, molecular biology, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and bioprocessing. The research aims to improve how plant cells can be used as “biofactories” for valuable natural compounds with applications in human health, biotechnology, future manufacturing, and sustainable production.

PhD 1: Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology focuses on how plant cells respond to stress and how to improve resilience, survival, growth, and productivity in plant cell suspension cultures. The work includes plant tissue culture, molecular biology, stress assays, microscopy, and functional validation of candidate genes.

PhD 2: Bioinformatics and Transcriptomics focuses on computational and transcriptomic analysis of plant cell performance, including RNA-seq datasets, gene regulatory networks, stress-resilience pathways, and data-driven approaches for engineering improved plant cell culture systems. This project is especially relevant for applicants with bioinformatics, computational biology, statistics, and programming experience.

Funding: the PhD scholarships provide a €25,000 per annum tax-exempt stipend, with 4 years of tuition fees covered for EU and non-EU applicants. Additional support may be available for a laptop and project-related travel.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have at least a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as plant science, biotechnology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, computational biology, or data science. Strong motivation, teamwork, communication skills, and relevant technical experience are emphasized.

Deadlines: PhD 1 deadline is 7 June 2026; PhD 2 deadline is 31 August 2026. The postdoc deadline is 2 June 2026.

How to apply: email a single PDF containing your cover letter, CV, and two referees’ contact details to [email protected]. Include the requested supporting information listed in the call and apply before the relevant deadline.