DAERA Postgraduate Studentship Research Projects

Final Year PhD research (2014-17)

1.Competitiveness and resilience of Northern Ireland total beef supply chain.

2.Genetic variation in Native Irish trees under threat from emergent fungal pathogens.

3.An investigation into the competitiveness of a local beef scheme operating as part of the NI food supply chain in an International market.

4.Trophic impacts of gelatinous zooplankton on commercial fisheries species.

5.Maximising the market and non-market benefits of small, privately owned woodland through eco-labelling: Identification of willingness-to-pay.

6.The role of higher protein forages and locally grown protein crops within Northern Ireland dairy production systems.

7.Exploiting Remote Sensing Technologies to improve farm animal management andproduction.

8.An evaluation of grouping and housing systems for Northern Ireland beef cattle

9.An exploratory analysis of the effectiveness of a collective action based approach in tackling diffuse water pollution from agriculture in Northern Ireland

10.Assessment and prediction of the potential threats of temperature change and invasive species to the sustainability of Northern Irish sea fisheries

Second year PhD research (2015-18)

  1. Investigating the sustainability of the local honey bee population.
  2. Effects of land use practices on C sequestration and their implications for tackling GHG emissions for the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland.
  3. Cattle and badger dynamics in relation to the potential transmission of Mycobacterium bovis.
  4. Effects of long-term nutrient fertilization and land use change on the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural grasslands.
  5. AquacuLture sEcuRiTy: An evaluation of the social and economic threats to aquaculture security.
  6. Characterization, maintenance and refinement of the unique qualities of Armagh ciders.
  7. Commercial and ecological impacts relating to the banning of discards.
  8. Identifying the factors which affect feed efficiency and rumen development of dairy calves throughout rearing, in relation to biological and physical growth and development with possible consequences on first calving age and production efficiency
  9. Investigation into the effect of fatty acids in the diet of swine on immune response and microfauna.
  10. Linking Northern Ireland milk quality to farming landscape: elemental nutrient & microbial signatures.
  11. Noise pollution as an emerging threat to commercial fisheries: a case study using the Norway Lobster (Nephropsnorvegicus).
  12. Development and assessment of potential diagnostic and bio control measures against soft rot in vegetables.

First year PhD research (2016-19)

1.Development of a dynamic mathematical model to assess spread and control of bovine tuberculosis integrating both domestic and wild host dynamics.

2.Early detection of plant diseases using Remote Sensing.

3.Intergenerational Farmers in Northern Ireland: Understanding Entrance and Exit to Farming in order to inform future rural development policies

4.Perception Predominates Preparedness: how perceived climate change effects affect agriculture practices.

5.High-value functional dairy products from low-value whey proteins: proving the concept.

6.Remediation of agricultural wastes to grow algal biomass for nutritional supplements in animal feed.

7.Rural Poverty and Social Isolation: An analysis of policy effectiveness using natural experiment within Northern Ireland.

8.Microbial ecology of bee pathogens: averting the threat to the Irish bee.

9.Evaluating the role of sediment and physical catchment characteristics on aquatic ecosystems and their impact on the recovery of biological water quality in Northern Irish river systems.

10.Development of systems to improve dairy beef young stock health and performance.

11.Legacy P in Lough Neagh sediments, understanding the characteristics and estimating timescales of recovery.

12.How can Northern Ireland more effectively deliver plant health protection to contribute to the DAERA vision of a thriving and sustainable rural economy?

New PhD research due to commence in October (2017-20)

  1. Investigating species of conservation concern to predict ecosystem service delivery and its impact on production value of sheep hill farms n Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) in Northern Ireland post-Brexit.
  2. Effects of phytogenics on intestinal pathogenic bacteria and microbiota of livestock non-ruminants.
  3. Measuring the impacts of Social Farming on participants and farming families in Northern Ireland.
  4. Identifying, understanding and harnessing the beneficial impact of genotype by nutritional interactions to optimise the performance and meat quality of low weight pigs.
  5. Using novel precision technology to measure individual dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cattle at pasture.
  6. Development of systems to improve the utilisation of forage and grass in beef production systems.
  7. Effects of sheep grazing strategies on animal performance and grass production, utilisation and quality.
  8. Maximising the benefits of cover crops through optimising the management of rotations, organic manures and N fertiliser.
  9. Bio stimulant strategies to enhance grass growth.
  10. Understanding the epidemiology of bovine TB and potential routes of infection by elucidation of fine-scale badger movement and behaviour.
  11. Estimating the relative importance of apex predator and mesopredator interactions for the provision of marine ecosystem services.
  12. An exploration of how small agri-food businesses can exploit big data market information to innovate with their products and create competitive advantage.