‘Milkybiotics: Priming the Gut for Good Bacteria” 

Background 

Probiotics have been widely recommended and marketed in recent years, however, there are no commercial products that aid or increase the attachment of probiotic bacteria to intestinal cells which is the first step in colonization.

In Teagasc, we have already demonstrated in-vitro that an ingredient in milk can significantly 
increase attachment of health promoting bacteria in the gut. Therefore, the Milkybiotics project will focus on exploring commercial and sustainable dairy by-product and co product streams, for their ability to enhance the colonisation of probiotic bacteria in the gut.

This project will comprehensively examine the mechanisms by which the milk ingredient modulates the intestinal cells using an advanced in-vitro model. This project could essentially lead to a commercial product creating a new generation of value-added ingredients to target gut health and provide a new market for strain producers, supplement producers, health ingredient companies, while maximising value of dairy waste products.

The multidisciplinary nature of this project allows for training in many key skills such as microbiology, glycomics, molecular biology and cell biology making the student highly employable as the need for trained personnel with a strong background in Gut Health is at an all-time high. 

Milkybiotics will also impart dairy-related expertise to its post-graduate researcher, which is directly relevant to the growing needs of today’s dairy company sector. Primiarily based in Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, the researcher by the end of the project will possess scientific expertise and will be market ready for industrial sectors in Ireland as well as overseas, further promoting Irish excellence in Agri-Food Science. 

Requirements  

Applicants should have a First or Upper Second-Class Honours BSc. Degree (2.1) or higher in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Food Science or related discipline.

The successful candidate should be highly self motivated with the ability to develop technical skills in laboratory analysis, previous experience in biochemical assays, in vitro intestinal cell models, membrane technology and microbiology would be advantageous.

The candidate will also be involved in wider Walsh Fellow and VistaMilk activities (professional 
development, postgraduate training, presentations at conferences and public engagement activities). For 
applicants whose first language is not English, requirements for the UCC PhD program are available 
at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/. 

Award  

Starting on or before September 1st 2026, the PhD scholarship is a joint research project between Teagasc (Ireland’s national agency for agriculture and food research), VistaMilk Research Ireland and University College Cork (UCC). VistaMilk is a leading national research centre based at Teagasc, Moorepark, whose goal is to drive innovation and sustainability in the Irish dairy industry through world class research.  

The student will be based in the Dept. of Food Biosciences at Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy Co. Cork, Ireland, working under the supervision of Dr Rita Hickey (Teagasc) and Dr Tom O’Callaghan (Food Chemistry and Production Research Group@UCC) in the School of Food & Nutritonal Sciences, UCC.

The scholarship funding is €25,000 per annum and up to €5,750 per annum for university fees (E.U Rate) and is tenable for 4 years. Higher tuition fees may chargeable to non-EU students. 

Further Information/Applications  
Contact Dr Rita Hickey, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, email:  
rita.hickey@teagasc.ie