Postgraduate Fellowships: The Walsh Fellowships
We are a major employer of postgraduate Walsh Fellowship students with some 140 pursuing PhD programmes at any one time. A budget of €3.2 million per annum is committed to the programme. There are up to 30 new places each year with a grant of €22,000 per student.
They are called Walsh Fellowships, to commemorate the late Dr Tom Walsh, first director of both the Agricultural Research Institute and the National Advisory and Training Service, which were merged to form Teagasc, and a prime mover in developing agricultural and food research in Ireland.
Current news
- 16th February 2013 - Results of Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Call (276KB, PDF format)
- Current Opportunities for potential students
- The 2013 Walsh Fellowships Programme Short-Term Overseas Training Awards
Information for current Walsh Fellows
Details of Walsh Fellowship Programme
Objectives
The main objectives of the Fellowships are:
- Training and professional development of young scientists in research in agriculture, food and related disciplines.
- Liaison between Teagasc's applied research programme and more basic/fundamental investigations in third-level colleges.
- Establishing 'new science' areas in Teagasc in response to changing priorities.
Topics
All aspects of agriculture, horticulture, food, agri-food economics, rural development and rural environment, as well as specific topics identified for priority funding each year.
Applications for Walsh Fellowship Projects
Applications are made by full-time academic staff of the universities in consultation with Teagasc researchers.
The 2013 call was launched in June and has a closing date of 5.00 pm on Thursday, 6th September, 2012. View full details.
Applications are evaluated using the following criteria:
- Scientific background and technical quality of the application
- Tasks: Deliverables and milestones
- Expected benefits
- Supervision and resources
On approval, a graduate student is recruited to an MSc or PhD programme.
Education and Development
Teagasc is committed to a co-ordinated professional development strategy for postgraduate students.
The Fellowship scheme requires that participating students achieve a level of statistical expertise in experimental methods appropriate to a Master’s or PhD programme. It is the responsibility, therefore, of the college and Teagasc supervisors that students attend and pass such statistical courses as are available to them.
In addition, postgraduate students are expected to acquire competence in the following areas:
- Reviewing and analysing literature
- Technical writing skills
- Presentation skills
- Specific technical skills (e.g. laboratory assays/analyses, time management)
Duration and Location
- Up to two years for an MSc and a maximum of four years for a PhD
- Preferably located at a Teagasc research centre
Further Information
The Walsh Fellowships Administrator
Tel: +353 (0)59 9183478
Email:
walshfellowships@teagasc.ie