Funded Postgraduate Research Scholarships
Current Postgraduate Funded Research Master's and PhD Scholarships are listed below...
Applicants interested in applying for a research masters or PhD should also check individual Faculty webpages for information on current research projects.
| Project(s) | Background Dairy production is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions to air and nutrient losses to water in Europe, but delivers high-quality protein with smaller environmental footprints compared with other animal-based food production systems. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has previously been applied to calculate the environmental footprint of milk production from various farm typologies employing a range of practises to mitigate GHG and NH3 emissions. However, dairy farms are intricately connected with crop and beef production systems owing to inflows of feed and outflows of culled milking cows and surplus dairy calves. Recent research has highlighted the environmental significance of indirect inter-system effects associated with sustainable intensification strategies for dairy farming. Such effects are critical in the context of Net Zero Carbon targets that will necessitate dramatic reductions in overall agricultural emissions alongside land sparing for carbon offsetting activities such as afforestation. There is an urgent need to assess innovative mitigation strategies for dairy production through consequential LCA that explicitly represents indirect co-benefits and trade-offs across interconnected systems, considering, inter alia, potential changes in land use. The successful candidate will have access to data from ongoing experimental trials alongside advanced farm- and landscape- level models employed on the SeQUEsTER project to calculate milk footprints and the wider environmental consequences of mitigation strategies employed across agriculture, forestry and other land use sectors. With assistance from the supervisory team and the postdoctoral researcher working on SeQUEsTER, the PhD candidate will be expected to adapt and parameterise these models using data mined from various sources in order to: (i) benchmark environmental footprints of milk produced from low-input dairy systems against milk produced from conventional dairy systems (attributional LCA); (ii) evaluate national and international mitigation achievable via deployment of low-input, high-output systems, accounting for critical inter-sectoral and land use consequences (consequential LCA). Results will be presented at international conferences and published in high quality scientific journals, contributing to the evidence base on effective strategies to achieve Net Zero Carbon.
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| Faculty | Science and Engineering |
| Entry Requirements | 2.1 Honours or higher Level 8 primary degree (or MSc) in a cognate and a related discipline (Agricultural Science, Engineering, Computer modelling, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, etc.) Excellent numerical skills Knowledge of agricultural systems |
| Funding/Stipend | €24,000/ per annum, including Fees an Stipend for four years |
| Contact & How to Apply | Further Information Dr David Styles, School of Engineering, University of Limerick. Email: David.Styles@ul.ie Application Procedure Submit an electronic copy of Curriculum Vitae and a letter of interest to Dr David Styles at David.Styles@ul.ie. Dea |
| Additional Information | Essential Requirements • 2.1 honors or higher level 8 primary degree (or MSc) in a cognate and related discipline (Agricultural Science, Engineering, Computer modelling, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, etc.) • Excellent numerical skills • Knowledge of agricultural systems Desirable requirements • Coding skills • Experience applying LCA • Knowledge of greenhouse gas and ammonia emission sources • Skills in spatial analysis, e.g. GIS |
| Project(s) | Death and Burial Data: Ireland 1864-1922 (DBDIrl) You will join the DBDIrl research group, and work in collaboration with the specialists (PhD and Postdocs) in History, Digital Data Archives and Linked Data as well as other PhD students and Postdoctoral fellows in the Software System research group, working on model driven development, service oriented computing, Formal Methods, AI and data science, and Security and privacy. The co-supervisors are affiliated with Lero (www.lero.ie) and the HRI (https://www.ul.ie/hri/), various group members are affiliated with Confirm (https://confirm.ie), the ALECS EU Co-fund programme (https://alecs.lero.ie), and the CRT in AI (http://crt-ai.cs.ucc.ie). CS Background and Goals: The data management of curated digital data collections, and in particular big data, in the digital humanities is emerging as a powerful tool to make these data available to a much wider range of researchers, policy and decision makers, and general users. To make this happen, digital platforms need to be simple to use and to change, secure and efficient to use, respect the evolving data protection and legal frameworks, and have the ability to evolve and interconnect with new, heterogeneous data collections and analysis capabilities that are unknown at the conception time. For this new paradigm to enter mainstream, models need to be coupled with automatic transformations, generations, and analyses that take advantage of the formalized knowledge about the immaterial and material entities, and the individuals involved in the research. This formalized knowledge includes a variety of models together with Domain Specific Languages that use semantic types at their core. In this project, the CS team researches the underlying software and system-level challenges, and builds demonstrators of how the new thinking can disrupt the status quo but empower a better understanding. This is achieved by offering a more efficient organization and a more automated management of the many cross-dimensional issues that future digital humanities platforms - with big data, connected software and systems - will depend upon. This project is an interfaculty project between the faculties of Science & Engineering and Arts Humanities & Social Sciences |
| Faculty | Science and Engineering |
| Entry Requirements | 1. A degree (level 8 NFQ – 1st class or MSc) in Computer Science or similar disciplines 2. Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills 3. Ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary team. 4. Knowledge and experience in three or more of the following areas:
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| Funding/Stipend | EU Fees and €16000 stipend |
| Contact & How to Apply | Please review the additional information below and email address: DBDIrl@ul.ie by Friday 12pm GMT, 20 March 2020 |
| Additional Information | Please include the following information in your application: 1. A CV, 2. A cover letter describing how you meet the specification, with a description of your previous software development experience, 3. Full transcript of records of your university-level studies so far, 4. Proof of sufficient English skills (either as a native English speaker or provide an IELTS standard of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in all categories) or equivalent certificate), 5. Previous publications or previous significant work (thesis, final year project, or similar). Links to an online free access repository are sufficient. Please submit by Friday 12pm GMT, 20 March 2020 to the following email address: DBDIrl@ul.ie Essential pre-requisites:
Desirable competences:
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| Project(s) | MARLSITES is a joint project between University of Limerick and University College Dublin in Ireland. This project will investigate, review and evaluate forest establishment and management practices and protocols on high pH and marl sites with a view to proposing improvements that would increase forest productivity and help ensure sustainability. The study will aim to inform policy and establishment practices on these sites. The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Ireland. Two Masters projects will be funded as part of this research, as follows:
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| Faculty | Science and Engineering |
| Entry Requirements | Applications are sought from highly motivated individuals who have a good academic record in forestry, soil science, environmental science, natural resource management or closely related disciplines. |
| Funding/Stipend | Scholarship will be €24,000 per annum for two years. After a contribution to tuition fees have been deducted (€6,000 for EU students in 2019/20), the remainder of the scholarship will be paid monthly as a tax-free stipend. |
| Contact & How to Apply | Dr Ken Byrne (ken.byrne@ul.ie) The position will remain open until filled. |
| Additional Information | Applicants should submit, by email a letter outlining why they are interested in the research topic, their suitability for the position, a full curriculum vitae (including the names, addresses and emails of two referees) to: Dr Ken Byrne (ken.byrne@ul.ie). Queries about either of the two positions may be sent to Dr Byrne. |
| Project(s) | Macroalgal proteins represent interesting, but as yet, relatively unexplored sources of high quality plant-derived proteins with significant bio- and technofunctional potential. The BioDulse project, which is funded by Enterprise Ireland through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund consists of a multidisciplinary team of academic and industry partners. This project is focused on extracting, characterising and ultimately developing food ingredient applications for the proteins from the red seaweed species, Palmaria palmata. A detailed understanding of the physicochemical, and both the bio- and technofunctional characteristics of P. palmata proteins and their enzymatic hydrolysates is required in order to optimise their food ingredient potential. This project aims to study the bio- and technofunctional properties of P. palmata proteins and their hydrolysates. The project will involve exposure to a range of protein science/chemistry, technofunctional and in vitro bioactivity assessment techniques during the extraction and characterisation of macroalgal proteins and their hydrolysates.The increasing consumer demand and a rapidly growing global population highlights the need to find sustainable alternative food protein sources. Macroalgae, or seaweed, has been consumed throughout the world for centuries. |
| Faculty | Science and Engineering |
| Entry Requirements | Minimum 2.1 hons degree in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Biotechnology, Bioscience, Biochemistry or closely related discipline |
| Funding/Stipend | €21,690 per annum (value includes postgraduate fees) |
| Contact & How to Apply | Prof. Dick. FitzGerald, Biological Sciences Department, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Tel: 00353 061 202598: E-mail:dick.fitzgerald@ul.ie dick.fitzgerald@ul.ie |
| Additional Information | Applicants are invited to submit a cover letter, recent CV and two academic references to Prof. FitzGerald |
| Project(s) | The successful candidate will support a project funded by the Lifes2good Foundation in conjunction with Connacht Rugby. Data on youth rugby players in the province of Connacht suggest that dropout is particularly severe between the ages of 16 and 20 years. Continued participation in sport at this age is viewed as an important avenue to promote physical, mental and social health. Decisions about sport participation arise from the complex interaction of a broad range of factors. Although some of these factors are likely to underpin continued participation irrespective of context (e.g., enjoyment; quality relationships), context-specific investigations are required to identify the specific barriers to and sources of support for continued participation. The project will examine ways in which Connacht Rugby could support the underage player pathway to better facilitate the playing experience, reduce drop out and ultimately see more players continuing to adulthood as participants in rugby at all levels. |
| Faculty | Education and Health Sciences |
| Entry Requirements | Essential Criteria •Bachelor’s degree in a health science field (2.1 award or higher). •Evidence of excellent communication skills. •Evidence of excellent organisational skills. •Evidence of excellent IT skills. •Car owner and full driving license. Desirable Criteria •Evidence of research report writing. •Evidence of experience using qualitative research methods, particularly in relation to focus groups. •Coaching experience within a youth sport context. •Demonstrated experience of working effectively in a research team as well as independently. |
| Funding/Stipend | |
| Contact & How to Apply | For further information please contact Dr Philip Kearney, email philip.kearney@ul.ie |
| Additional Information | Additional information on the project, including a detailed description, the terms of the award, and guidance on how to apply, is available here |
| Project(s) | Energy systems around the world are currently undergoing two simultaneous and radical transformations; the electrification of transport and the decarbonisation of the electricity grids. Likewise, there are highly ambitious aspirations at a policy level to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy and in particular in the area of critical raw materials where recycling rates are very low and for which Europe is dependent on largely single sources which are considered to be a supply risk. This project is at the nexus of these challenges. It will undertake a detailed scientific, technical and economic analysis into how the batteries of end-of-life electric vehicles can be repurposed as stationary batteries to support the greater integration of renewable electricity in electric grids. This incorporates forecasting the availability of storage capacity based on quantitative projections of electric vehicles reaching end of life, testing of business models for their use in grid applications, a physical model as to how the batteries will perform over the necessary extended lifecycles in these business models, and recommendations on ELV treatment standards to facilitate the opportunity. The project will deliver an evidential basis for policy makers to support their planning for the coming energy, transport and circular economy transitions that are necessary in the pursuit of EU targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. |
| Faculty | Science and Engineering |
| Entry Requirements | Candidate Requirements Essential Attributes: A Bachelors degree in Electronic/Electrical/Computer Engineering or equivalent. A strong interest/experience in data analytics. Desirable Attributes: A Masters degree in Electronic/Electrical/Computer Engineering or equivalent. Publication in conference and/or peer-reviewed journal. Experience in analysis of electric grids. |
| Funding/Stipend | Stipend of €16,000 tax free per annum, EU tuition fees covered. Non-EU students may have to pay balance of full fees. |
| Contact & How to Apply | For further information please contact Colin.Fitzpatrick@ul.ie. To apply please send a cv and application letter to Colin.Fitzpatrick@ul.ie |
| Additional Information |
| Project(s) | The contribution of the oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus to the pathogenesis of B cell malignancies. |
| Faculty | Education and Health Sciences |
| Entry Requirements | An appropriate Masters Degree or Primary Degree Level (first class hons or 2.1 hons) in a relevant discipline. |
| Funding/Stipend | Stipend of €16,000 tax-free per annum, EU tuition fees covered. Non-EU students may have to pay balance of full fees. |
| Contact & How to Apply | A CV, University transcripts, 2 academic references and a letter of application indicating why you think your skills and experience meet the requirement for the project. For Further Details, please contact via email Professor Paul Murray paul.murray@ul.i |
| Additional Information | The majority of B cell malignancies arise within the germinal centre, a stage of B cell differentiation associated with significant genetic instability. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpesvirus that can colonise germinal centre B cells as part of its natural life cycle in the asymptomatic host. However, EBV is associated with the development of germinal centre derived B cell malignancies. This project seeks to unravel the contribution of EBV and its latent genes to the pathogenesis of germinal centre derived tumours using new models of disease to understand how EBV co-operates with other cellular mutations. There will be opportunities for study in other laboratories abroad as part of this studentship, including research groups at the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge. For further reading see: Young LS, Yap LF Murray PG. Nat Rev Cancer 2016 12: 789-802 Shannon-Lowe et al Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017 372:1732 |
| Project(s) | The contribution of CAMK1D to the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma |
| Faculty | Education and Health Sciences |
| Entry Requirements | An appropriate Masters Degree or Primary Degree Level (first class hons or 2.1 hons) in a relevant discipline |
| Funding/Stipend | Stipend of €16,000 tax-free per annum, EU tuition fees covered. Non-EU students may have to pay balance of full fees. |
| Contact & How to Apply | A CV, University transcripts, 2 academic references and a letter of application indicating why you think your skills and experience meet the requirement for the project. For Further Details, please contact via email Professor Paul Murray paul.murray@ul.ie |
| Additional Information | New approaches to the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are needed to increase survival for patients with resistant or relapsed disease and to reduce the acute and long-term side effects of current therapies that adversely impact on the health and well-being of survivors. In this project, we will measure the expression and activation of CaMK1D in relation to disease outcomes in HL patients. We will also explore the impact of CaMK1D inhibition on the phenotype of HL cells, including aberrant cellular signalling, in vitro and evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of CaMK1D inhibitors alone and in combination with standard chemo-therapeutics in xenograft models. The student will receive a broad range of training and there will be opportunities to spend part of the studentship working in the University of Birmingham Cancer Research Centre. |
| Project(s) | Full details available http://www.ul.ie/psychology/phd-studentships |
| Faculty | Education and Health Sciences |
| Entry Requirements | |
| Funding/Stipend | |
| Contact & How to Apply | Further Details http://www.ul.ie/psychology/phd-studentships |
| Additional Information |