PLEDGE is recruiting a Research Assistant (Ireland)

Job Advertisement: Research Assistant on the PLEDGE project

Location: National Botanic Gardens of Ireland (OPW), Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland

Duration: 30 months, starting Nov 2026.

Background

Western Ireland, Iceland, and Scandinavia share vulnerable coastal, peatland and arctic-alpine species and ecosystems in need of conservation. Ex situ plant conservation capacity is uneven and fragmented in this region. The PLEDGE project (Plants on the Edge - Building resilience to climate driven biodiversity loss through ex-situ plant conservation in the NPA) will strengthen climate resilience by building a coordinated ex situ conservation network, resulting in better preparedness to restore threatened plant species. The project, co-funded by the EU Interreg Northern Periphery & Arctic programme, is led by the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, with partners at the University of Oulu, Finland, the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, and Reykjavík Botanic Gardens, Iceland. Associated partners from Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland will also bring their expertise to the project. The main outputs of PLEDGE include jointly developing and implementing enhanced ex situ conservation strategies, optimising techniques and developing seed banking and cryopreservation facilities at the various sites. A target list of species (vascular plants and bryophytes) will be selected across the region and protocols will be developed and implemented for their ex situ conservation.

The role – Research Assistant

There is an opportunity in the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin to join the PLEDGE project team as a Research Assistant on a 30 month contract. The job will involve:

• Assisting with planning and undertaking fieldwork, sometimes in remote locations.

• Processing samples for the seed bank, including; quality control & germination trials.

• Supporting and maintaining laboratory activities/equipment for cryopreservation, tissue culture and genetic studies

• Testing protocols for seed germination and plant cryopreservation

• Assisting with in vitro cultivation (tissue culture micropropagation)

• Assisting with genetic analyses

• Maintaing databases, analysing data and contributing to project reporting

• Supporting the wider activities of the project including communications & engagement.

Requirements

This job is ideally suited to someone who is highly organised with scientific and laboratory training. The candidate should have a degree in a relevant discipline. Experience in one or more relevant laboratory skills such as plant genetics, tissue culture or biobanking is desirable. Knowledge of Ireland’s flora is also desirable.  The candidate must be eligible for employment in Ireland.

The candidate will be appointed at point 1 of the IUA Research Assistant salary scale, €34,129 per annum.

For more details on the project see https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/PLEDGE/home/

Application Process

Please apply with a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to DBNHerbarium@opw.ie using the subject line ‘PLEDGE Research Assistant’. Please submit your application before the deadline of 20th Nov 2026.