PhD in Multi-Trait Wood Quality Characterisation to Support Tree Breeding of Irish-Grown Softwoods and Hardwoods

The
successful candidate will be supervised by TU Dublin Project Lead, Dr Sameer Mehra, at the Wood and Bio-based
Materials Research Group (WBMRG), TU Dublin – City Campus and co-supervised by Dr Dheeraj Rathore, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow.
 The candidate will collaborate with
project partners on the ResilientForests
Project: Advancing Tree Improvement Research for Climate-Resilient, Diverse,
and Productive Forests for Ireland. Led by Teagasc, Oak Park,
Carlow, ResilientForests is a multi-institutional research project involving
South East Technological University (SETU), University College Dublin,
Technological University Dublin, and various industry partners.

The
ResilientForests project aims to strengthen Ireland’s forest sector by
developing the science, strategies, and capacity to deliver climate-resilient,
diverse, and productive forests. This PhD research forms part of Work Package
4, "ResFor_Quality," focusing on multi-trait wood quality
characterisation to support tree breeding. The project will develop practical
tools for tree breeding, forest reproductive material (FRM) improvement, and
wood quality evaluation to support long-term carbon storage by deploying
high-quality timber genotypes.

The PhD
candidate will focus on the following key objectives:

·        
Wood Quality Phenotyping: Characterise wood quality
traits, including anatomical characteristics, density, mechanical properties
(strength and stiffness), and chemical composition, in selected breeding
populations of priority tree species using standardised sampling, testing, and
analytical methods.

·        
Genomic Analysis: Generate high-resolution wood
property datasets and integrate them with existing genotypic data to enable
advanced genomic analysis.

·        
Trait Integration and Breeder Recommendation: Identify genetic markers
associated with valuable timber traits and quantify genetic trade-offs between
growth performance and wood quality, enabling early and balanced selection.

The
candidate will work closely with project partners and industry collaborators,
offering excellent opportunities for applied research, training, industry
engagement, and scientific dissemination.

15. Student Requirements for this Project

Essential requirements/ Qualifications

·        
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (minimum 2.1 grade or
equivalent) in forestry, forest biology and tree improvement, forest products
and utilisation, forest engineering, plant breeding, plant biotechnology, wood
science and engineering or a closely related discipline.

·        
Valid authorisation to reside, work, and travel freely
within the European Union for the project's duration.

·        
Fluency in English, with excellent report-writing and
oral presentation skills.

·        
Strong organisational, time-management, and prioritisation
abilities.

·        
The capacity to work independently and collaboratively
within a team.

·        
Proficiency in IT and professional social networking.

·        
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication
skills.

Desirable requirements/ Qualifications

·        
Demonstrated interest in wood quality, tree breeding,
forestry, plant genetics, or related bio-based material research.

·        
Experience with experimental design, data management, and
statistical analysis.

·        
Familiarity with analysing multivariate or
materials-related datasets.

·        
Experience in laboratory, workshop, or field research
environments.

·        
Evidence of strong written and verbal communication
skills.

·        
Motivation to engage with academic, industry, and project
partners across a collaborative research environment.

·        
A full, clean Irish/European Union driving license.

The
candidate must be self-motivated and willing to acquire the broader skills
necessary for the successful completion of a PhD.

If
either English or Irish is not the applicant’s first language, evidence of
English language proficiency is required for registration. Please refer to the
web link  English Language Requirements |
Technological University Dublin to view the minimum English language
proficiency standards for entry to TU Dublin.

Project
Start Date: September
1st, 2026

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