Program Overview

PhD Studentship within VistaMilk

The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre is a unique collaboration between Agri-Food, Information Communications Technology (ICT) research institutes, leading Irish/Multinational Food, and ICT companies. It is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM).

PhD Position

Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD studentship within VistaMilk, in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at University College Dublin, Ireland. The successful applicant will work on a project entitled 'Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence for Animal Health'. The project involves collaboration between Dr. Aonghus Lawlor, UCD, and Dr. Dan Milbourne, Teagasc.

Project Description

This PhD scholarship holder will work at the interface between Deep Learning/Machine Learning and plant genomics. Recent developments in ML and DL provide an opportunity to develop powerful state-of-the-art predictive methods to support plant breeding programs at Teagasc. The project will develop novel models and techniques for improving the prediction of phenotypic traits and will also involve analysis of Near Infrared Spectroscopy data collected in Teagasc.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are:

• 2.1 grade (or equivalent) in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, statistics, or similar technical discipline.
• Non-native English speakers require at least IELTS 6.5 (with at least 6 in all components) or equivalent.

Scholarship Details

The successful candidate will receive a generous scholarship valued at around €110,000. This covers PhD fees (fully covered for EU students and partially covered for non-EU students), a tax-free stipend of €18,500 per annum for four years, funds for conference travel, and an equipment allowance.

Research Areas

The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre focuses on Agri-Food, Information Communications Technology (ICT) research, and collaboration with leading Irish/Multinational Food and ICT companies. The research areas include:

• Data Analytics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Animal Health
• Plant Genomics
• Deep Learning
• Machine Learning

University Details

University College Dublin is located in Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. The university offers various programs in computer science, mathematics, engineering, statistics, and other technical disciplines.