Job Description
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College/Management Unit
School/Unit
Post Title & Subject Area (if relevant)
Project
Post Duration
Reports to
HR Reference No.
HR Administrator
College/Management Unit
Application to
Closing Date
College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary
Medicine
Agriculture and Food
UCD Research Assistant
FP 7
15 months
Prof John O’Doherty
Completed by HR
Completed by HR
College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary
Medicine
John.vodoherty@ucd.ie
23 August 2013
Position Summary
Please describe the nature and purpose of the post (approx 100 – 150 words)
The overall objective of this project is to investigate the link between health and nutrition
and more specifically the strategic use of natural food components to produce a wide
variety of disease avoidance and health maintenance measures which will contribute to an
improved and more acceptable system of animal production without the use of growth
promoting antibiotics. The use of these growth promoters have been banned in EU since
1st January 2006. The outcome of this ban has been the growth in the use of therapeutic
antibiotics . This is the worst possible outcome from a human health perspective and has
arisen because of a lack of alternatives to antibiotics. Any good alternative must give a
similar response to the use of the infeed antibiotics . The outcomes of this project will be
to assess the alternatives proposed by the SME’s. This project aims to solve these issues
by providing scientifically proven feed products which will function effectively in
enhancing the health, immunity, growth and performance of livestock, thereby negating
antibiotic use. The ‘Thrive-Rite Research Project’ as described here represents a two year
working partnership of four SMEs and three RTDs from four member states.
Hence the main objectives of the THRIVE-RITE project are:
1. To reduce the number of salmonella and Campylobacter that colonize pigs and
chickens respectively and decrease the number of salmonella and Campylobacter
exposed individuals, as a result.
2. To examine the effects of dietary compounds on reducing the impact of viral
pathogens on the efficiency of pig and poultry systems.
3. To investigate the effects of dietary compounds on improving the antioxidant value of
pig and poultry meat and extending its shelf life.
4. To enhance the immune system of offspring via (i) maternal colostrum and milk or (ii)
in-ovo technology (pre-hatching). This project will investigate the maternal and prehatching effects, on post weaning E.coli. levels, disease resistance and performance of
their progeny.
Salary: €33000-37750 per annum
Appointment on scale (where relevant) will be made commensurate with qualification and experience.
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Principal Duties and Responsibilities
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dietary formulation for monogastrics
day to day management of pigs and chickens for experimental periods
measurement of growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency, and nutrient digestibility
histopathology of the gastrointestinal tract
measurement of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and E.coli in pigs as well as campylobacter
and Salmonella in chickens
Antioxidant assays
ETEC and salmonella challenges
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Selection Criteria
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful
candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.
Mandatory
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PhD or Masters Degree in Animal Science/ monogastric nutrition
significant experience with pig/chicken experimentation
significant statistical expertise
significant microbiology expertise
significant experience in publishing in peer reviewed journals
Desirable
 hiostopathology
 Antioxidant assays
 Microbiology
Further Information for Candidates
Supplementary information
Unless otherwise specified, URLs to the relevant home page(s) will be inserted by HR.
The University:
The College/Management Unit:
The School/Programme
Office/Unit:
Other (Please specify):
http://ww.ucd.ie/aboutucd.htm
Relocation Expenses
x
Will not apply
Will be applied in accordance with the UCD policy
http://www.ucd.ie/hr/html/manual/remvexp.pdf
Informal Enquiries ONLY to:
Please note this section is optional. Applications will be addressed to an assigned HR administrator.
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Job Description Template
Name:
Title:
Email address:
Telephone:
Particular to this position
Please note this section is optional. Examples include, Details of set hours, peak periods, dress code or job-sharing
conditions etc.
Conditions specific to this post (if any):
 Animal experimentation requires significant our of hours and weekend work
Please ensure that the completed Job Description is sent in Soft-Copy to HR. NB: It is not possible to commence
the Advertising Process until an electronic version of this form is coupled with the relevant Post Authorisation
Form (PAF) for the position.
© UCD Human Resources
Job Description Template