The MicroBiomica Lab at University College Dublin (UCD) is recruiting a PhD researcher through the DAFM-funded ADDRESS programme, offering an opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research into antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environmental metagenomics and microbial dark matter.
The position provides four years of PhD funding, including a tax-free annual stipend of €25,000 and tuition fee support, and is open to EU and non-EU applicants.
The PhD is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with applications closing on 31 August 2026.
What Will the UCD PhD Research Focus On?
The project sits at the intersection of microbiology and computational science, investigating antimicrobial resistance through the study of previously underexplored microbial communities.
The research may involve:
- Field sampling
- Culturomics
- Long-read sequencing
- Environmental metagenomics
- Bioinformatics
- Computational analysis
- Development of computational tools
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to graduates interested in:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
- Computational biology
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Environmental biotechnology
- Metagenomics
What Does the Fully Funded PhD Include?
The funding package provides support throughout the four-year doctoral programme.
Successful candidates will receive:
- €25,000 annual tax-free stipend
- Tuition fee support for four years
- Four years of PhD funding
- Access to advanced sequencing technologies
- Access to high-performance computing facilities
- Opportunities for national and international research collaboration
For international researchers, the combination of tuition support and a substantial annual stipend makes this a particularly attractive funded PhD opportunity in Ireland.
Who Can Apply?
The position is open to EU and non-EU applicants.
Candidates will be assessed on factors including:
- Academic achievement
- Research experience
- Motivation
- Scientific curiosity
- Independent thinking
- Alignment with the research project
Applicants therefore need to demonstrate more than strong academic grades. Their application should clearly explain their research interests and how their background connects with the proposed project.
A PhD Combining Laboratory and Computational Research
One of the distinctive features of the project is its interdisciplinary nature.
The research can span the entire scientific workflow, from collecting environmental samples and conducting laboratory investigations to generating sequencing data and performing computational analysis.
Researchers may therefore gain experience across:
Environmental sampling → Culturomics → Sequencing → Metagenomics → Bioinformatics → Computational tool development
This could be particularly valuable for candidates seeking to build expertise across both wet-lab research and computational biology.
Why Antimicrobial Resistance Research Matters
Antimicrobial resistance is a major research area because of the need to understand how resistance develops, spreads and persists across different environments.
The UCD project approaches the problem through environmental metagenomics and microbial dark matter, giving the doctoral researcher an opportunity to investigate microbial communities that remain poorly understood.
Candidates interested in genomics, microbiology, sequencing and computational biology could therefore find strong alignment with the research.
What Applicants Need Before Applying
Candidates should prepare the following materials:
- A current CV — a maximum of two pages is recommended.
- Academic qualification details.
- Contact details for two academic or professional referees.
- A brief statement explaining motivation, research interests and potential research ideas.
The motivation statement is particularly important because applicants are assessed partly on their scientific curiosity, independent thinking, motivation and alignment with the project.
Rather than simply repeating information from the CV, applicants should explain:
Why this project?
Why this research area?
Why are you well positioned to contribute?
How to Strengthen Your Application
Candidates can strengthen their application by highlighting relevant:
- Research projects
- Laboratory experience
- Computational skills
- Programming experience
- Bioinformatics experience
- Scientific publications
- Dissertation or thesis work
- Research methods
- Academic achievements
Applicants should also demonstrate genuine curiosity about the scientific problem.
For a research-intensive PhD, it is useful to show that you understand the broader research challenge and have thoughtful questions about the proposed area of investigation.
Important Dates
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| University | University College Dublin |
| Research group | MicroBiomica Lab |
| Programme | DAFM-funded ADDRESS |
| Study level | PhD |
| Research areas | AMR, environmental metagenomics, microbiology, bioinformatics |
| Funding duration | 4 years |
| Annual stipend | €25,000 tax-free |
| Tuition | Supported for 4 years |
| Eligible applicants | EU & non-EU |
| Start date | January 2027 |
| Application deadline | 31 August 2026 |
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This UCD PhD is particularly suited to candidates who want to work at the intersection of microbiology and computational research rather than pursuing a narrowly defined laboratory or theoretical project.
The combination of four years of funding, €25,000 annual tax-free stipend, tuition support, advanced research infrastructure and international collaboration opportunities makes it a strong option for researchers interested in AMR, genomics and environmental microbiology.
Application deadline: 31 August 2026
PhD start: January 2027
Funding: €25,000 per year + tuition support
Duration: 4 years
Applicants: EU and non-EU
