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PHD FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY Project title Molecular prediction of immunocompetence development in dairy and beef calves divergent in passive immunity. Background Achieving a high health status in calves is central to sustainable beef and dairy farming. In this respect, more information is needed on how development of immunocompetence or cell mediated immunity within dairy or beef calves is related to their passive immune status, vis-a-vis its efficacy or the time interval involved. Furthermore, there is evidence that, in addition to the humoral immune response, colostrum (first milk) also has a key role in the cell-mediated segment of the neonatal immune system, but this needs to be clarified. In recent years, major advances have occurred in the technologies used to study the molecular mechanisms underpinning biology and immunology in the bovine. The research activities of this 4-year Ph.D. project will focus on the application of molecular techniques including next generation sequencing technologies to provide a greater understanding of the effect of divergence in passive immunity on the development of an adaptive immune response and, the effect of colostrum per se on the development of immunity in beef and dairy calves. The project aims to characterize the transcriptome and immune components of colostrum from beef and dairy cows and following administration of varying levels of colostrum the transcriptome and immune variables will be determined in leukocytes of beef and dairy calves. Data will be integrated with immune, physiological and production data using bioinformatics and network analysis which will identify the critical molecular mechanisms regulating immunity in beef and dairy calves. This data will ultimately elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating immunity in beef and dairy cows leading to the discovery and validation of molecular predictors of immunity in cattle. Requirements Applicants should have a primary degree (First or upper Second Class Honours) or M.Sc. in an appropriate discipline (Animal science, biological sciences, molecular biology etc.). The successful candidate should be highly self-motivated and be prepared for laboratory work and extended periods of field work with modern analytical equipment. A full EU driving licence is also required. Award The PhD Fellowship is part of a joint research project between UCD, Teagasc, and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland (AFBINI) and is funded by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) Stimulus funded project (11/S/131). The student will be registered at University College Dublin, but primarily based at the Teagasc Research Centre, Grange Co. Meath. Periods of laboratory work will be undertaken at AFBINI. The student will be working under the joint supervision of Dr. Ingrid Lorenz (UCD), Dr. Sinéad Waters, Dr. Mark McGee and Dr. Bernadette Earley (Teagasc) and Dr. Michael Welsh (AFBINI). The Fellowship will start as soon as possible after 20th of January 2014. The 4-year fellowship provides an annual stipend of €22,000 from which, university fees are paid. 1 Further Information/Applications Dr. Sinead Waters, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland. Phone +353 (0)91845232 email: [email protected] Dr. Ingrid Lorenz, UCD, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Science Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Phone +353 (1)7166083 email: [email protected] Application Procedure Submit an electronic copy of Curriculum Vitae, and a letter of interest simultaneously to: Dr. Sinéad Waters Dr. Ingrid Lorenz email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Closing date 10th of January, 2014 2