Posted 15 August, 2026
PhD Studentship in Molecular Microbiology - 4 Years Fixed Term Contract, Full-Time
Dublin Dental University Hospital
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Full Time
Reference: 752836601
PhD Studentship in Molecular Microbiology
SCHOOL OF DENTAL SCIENCE, TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN &
DUBLIN DENTAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Four-Year Fixed Term Contract & Full-Time Fully Funded PhD Studentship
Commencing September 2026
A new one health PhD position fully funded (€25,000 stipend and EU fees) by the Health Research Board is currently available for a student to investigate the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospitals, community and veterinary settings.
The appointee will ultimately report to the Head of the Division of Oral Biosciences and will report to Dr Peter Kinnevey on a day-to-day basis. Overall post management is undertaken by the DDUH Executive team comprising the CEO, Dean and Clinical Director.
This four-year PhD studentship is fully funded through a Health Research Board Investigator-Led Project and provides a €25,000 annual tax-free stipend together with EU-rate PhD fees.
The successful candidate will investigate the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospital, community and veterinary settings using a One Health approach.
The student will be based in the Oral Biosciences Laboratory at DDUH and will work with collaborators at St James's Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and the HSE Public Health Laboratory.
Project Title: A One Health genomic investigation of the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospitals, community and veterinary settings
Ireland reports among the highest rates of VREfm bloodstream infection in Europe. Recent genomic work by the group has identified distinct hospital-adapted clones nationally, with growing evidence that patients may carry multiple, genetically distinct VREfm and vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium (VSEfm) strains. A collaborative team led by Dr Peter Kinnevey (DDUH/TCD), with co-applicants Dr Nicole Kavanagh (Mater Misericordiae University Hospital), Dr Peter Flanagan (Public Health Laboratory/HSE and TCD) and Dr Toney Thomas Poovelikunnel (HSE), and collaborators across St James's Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital and UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, has developed a four-year, multi-institutional One Health investigation of VREfm/VSEfm in Ireland. Based in the Oral Biosciences Laboratory at DDUH, the successful candidate will lead the population genetics and mobile genetic element work packages, working closely with the postdoctoral researcher and wider consortium. Rectal and faecal E. faecium isolates will be collected from asymptomatic carriers across major Dublin hospitals and from community and veterinary settings, including household pets and pigs. Isolates will be identified to species level, screened for vancomycin resistance and van genes, and characterised by short-read (Illumina MiSeq i100 Plus) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore MinION) sequencing. The student will apply core-genome MLST, SNP-basedphylogenetics, pan-genome and plasmidome analysis to resolve population structure, intra-host diversity, and the mobile genetic elements driving resistance-gene dissemination across human and animal reservoirs. The findings will also inform multiplex PCR approaches capable of detecting multiple E. faecium strains from a single specimen. The student will undertake structured PhD training at Trinity College Dublin, including formal coursework, a thesis committee, and specialised sequencing and bioinformatics courses. They will present at national and international conferences, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, and support the project's Public and Patient Involvement activities, including a public symposium.
The successful candidate will:
Candidates will ideally have:
General
Dublin Dental University Hospital will not be liable for travelling or other expenses incurred by candidates who may be invited to attend for interview.
Postgraduate EU fees will be paid and the studentship will be supported by an annual stipend of €25,000.
Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 20th August 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Shortlisting and interviews will follow shortly after the closing date.
Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Peter Kinnevey, Assistant Professor in Infection Prevention and Control and Microbiology, at [email protected]
Interested candidates should submit a Cover Letter together with a copy of their Curriculum Vitae via Hirehive.
Offers are subject to Garda Vetting, References, Pre-employment Medical and CPD in various HSEland Training Programmes.
Dublin Dental University Hospital is an equal opportunities employer.
SCHOOL OF DENTAL SCIENCE, TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN &
DUBLIN DENTAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Four-Year Fixed Term Contract & Full-Time Fully Funded PhD Studentship
Commencing September 2026
A new one health PhD position fully funded (€25,000 stipend and EU fees) by the Health Research Board is currently available for a student to investigate the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospitals, community and veterinary settings.
The appointee will ultimately report to the Head of the Division of Oral Biosciences and will report to Dr Peter Kinnevey on a day-to-day basis. Overall post management is undertaken by the DDUH Executive team comprising the CEO, Dean and Clinical Director.
This four-year PhD studentship is fully funded through a Health Research Board Investigator-Led Project and provides a €25,000 annual tax-free stipend together with EU-rate PhD fees.
The successful candidate will investigate the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospital, community and veterinary settings using a One Health approach.
The student will be based in the Oral Biosciences Laboratory at DDUH and will work with collaborators at St James's Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and the HSE Public Health Laboratory.
Project Title: A One Health genomic investigation of the population dynamics, intra-host diversity and mobile genetic elements of vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium across Irish hospitals, community and veterinary settings
Ireland reports among the highest rates of VREfm bloodstream infection in Europe. Recent genomic work by the group has identified distinct hospital-adapted clones nationally, with growing evidence that patients may carry multiple, genetically distinct VREfm and vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium (VSEfm) strains. A collaborative team led by Dr Peter Kinnevey (DDUH/TCD), with co-applicants Dr Nicole Kavanagh (Mater Misericordiae University Hospital), Dr Peter Flanagan (Public Health Laboratory/HSE and TCD) and Dr Toney Thomas Poovelikunnel (HSE), and collaborators across St James's Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital and UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, has developed a four-year, multi-institutional One Health investigation of VREfm/VSEfm in Ireland. Based in the Oral Biosciences Laboratory at DDUH, the successful candidate will lead the population genetics and mobile genetic element work packages, working closely with the postdoctoral researcher and wider consortium. Rectal and faecal E. faecium isolates will be collected from asymptomatic carriers across major Dublin hospitals and from community and veterinary settings, including household pets and pigs. Isolates will be identified to species level, screened for vancomycin resistance and van genes, and characterised by short-read (Illumina MiSeq i100 Plus) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore MinION) sequencing. The student will apply core-genome MLST, SNP-basedphylogenetics, pan-genome and plasmidome analysis to resolve population structure, intra-host diversity, and the mobile genetic elements driving resistance-gene dissemination across human and animal reservoirs. The findings will also inform multiplex PCR approaches capable of detecting multiple E. faecium strains from a single specimen. The student will undertake structured PhD training at Trinity College Dublin, including formal coursework, a thesis committee, and specialised sequencing and bioinformatics courses. They will present at national and international conferences, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, and support the project's Public and Patient Involvement activities, including a public symposium.
The successful candidate will:
- Hold (or expect to hold) a minimum 2.1 honours Bachelor's degree at QQI Level 8, or a higher degree, in Microbiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics or a related discipline, or an equivalent qualification from a university in another country.
- Demonstrate a high level of competence in English, including scientific writing and oral presentation skills. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet Trinity College Dublin's recognised postgraduate English-language requirements. (Band B). Further information can be found here: English Language Requirements - Study - Trinity College Dublin .
- Be highly motivated, self-directed and committed to undertaking a four-year programme of doctoral research.
- Demonstrate good organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to maintain accurate research records.
Candidates will ideally have:
- Previous experience in a microbiology, molecular biology or research laboratory environment.
- Experience of bacterial culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular methods, whole-genome sequencing or bioinformatics.
- The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional team.
- An interest in antimicrobial resistance, bacterial population genomics, mobile genetic elements or One Health research.
General
Dublin Dental University Hospital will not be liable for travelling or other expenses incurred by candidates who may be invited to attend for interview.
Postgraduate EU fees will be paid and the studentship will be supported by an annual stipend of €25,000.
Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 20th August 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Shortlisting and interviews will follow shortly after the closing date.
Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Peter Kinnevey, Assistant Professor in Infection Prevention and Control and Microbiology, at [email protected]
Interested candidates should submit a Cover Letter together with a copy of their Curriculum Vitae via Hirehive.
Offers are subject to Garda Vetting, References, Pre-employment Medical and CPD in various HSEland Training Programmes.
Dublin Dental University Hospital is an equal opportunities employer.
