MSc In Mycoprotein Technology

The development of filamentous fungi as food products is an area of intense interest, given its potential nutritional profile and the growing demand for non-meat-based protein as human food. Previous work in UCD and Teagasc demonstrated the potential of fungi to convert straw to fungal biomass and produce ethanol as a bioproduct. Plant pathogens (organisms that attack plants) are ideal organisms for the conversion of carbohydrate-rich plant material to protein. This M.Sc. project will assess the potential of plant pathogens to convert straw, spent brewers grain, and combinations of these, into mycoprotein. Acknowledging this is quite blue skies research, the potential benefits are enormous and any innovation in this area will be followed up with subsequent research projects. This funded position will investigate the potential of fungal pathogens to convert residual plant material to higher value protein. The student will learn how to culture plant pathogens, inoculate plant residue and quantify the bioconversion to protein. The student will be based at University College Dublin, under the supervision of Professor Fiona Doohan (https://people.ucd.ie/fiona.doohan). Please forward a cover letter and cv to Fiona.doohan@ucd.ie. This position is open until a suitable applicant is appointed, hence early application is advised (applications will not be accepted after November 30, 2022).

This project is funded by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Competitive Research Funding Programme as part of the Protein-I project ( 2021R546), as part of the Protein-I project (https://protein-i.ie). Funding will cover fees (EU fees) and an annual stipend of 18,000 euros. NON -EU students will have to pay the Non-EU fee contribution.. 

Candidates must hold at least a 2:1 Degree (or equivalent) in biological science, plant science or agricultural science. The M.Sc. will begin in January 2023.