UCD Research Fellow

College | Management Unit: UCD College of Science

School | Unit: UCD School of Earth Sciences

Post Title & Subject Area: UCD Research Fellow

Project: Perceptions, risk and regulation of the sub-surface

Post Duration: Specified purpose appointment (estimated duration: approx. 40 months)

Salary Range: €66,548 - €70,467 per annum

Line Manager: Professor Sarah Gleeson, Principal Investigator

Competition Ref. N⁰: 019585

HR Administrator: Arianna Eady

For Applications and Closing Date: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/

Eligible for Work Permit: Yes

Position Summary:

We invite applications for a position of Research Fellow for a newly funded Research Ireland Research Professorship awarded to Prof. Sarah Gleeson in the School of Earth Sciences (UCD). The research programme is called “Metals for a Green Ireland: Developing innovative mineral systems and exploration tools” and is focussed on the provision of the critical and strategic raw materials required for the green transition, with a focus on sedimentary basins. The research group will initially comprise 13 members from senior research fellows to PhD students, involves field sites on three continents and collaboration with industry and other stakeholders.

This Research Fellow will lead a work package “Georesources and Society” and will be co-supervised by Assoc. Prof. Geertje Schuitema, School of Business. Visualising, interpreting, and utilising the sub-surface is a fundamental skill in the geosciences. Social scientists are experts in risk perceptions, risk communication and decision-making. The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to understand how different stakeholders perceive the subsurface, how they assess the risks of sub-surface usage (e.g. mining or geothermal energy) and how they use these perceptions, including potential biases, to form attitudes and make decisions. In Ireland, what type of use of the sub-surface is acceptable, by which stakeholders and in which contexts? Which values underpin these decisions? Finally, what kind of information do stakeholders need to have to feel confident in the use of the sub-surface for georesource purposes? The aim of this project is to provide empirical data that facilitates decision making. The results of this will feed into the design of interventions that aim to increase trust and confidence of stakeholders in decisions involving georesources.

The purpose of the role is to deliver a specific research project. The role allows the Research Fellow the professional development opportunity to demonstrate the capacity for independent and self-directed research and scholarship and the management of a research team. The role allows the Fellow to assemble a portfolio of independent achievement and render themselves competitive for tenured academic positions or senior scientific roles in industry.

In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:

• Lead the day-to-day management of the project including data management, ethics approvals and delivery of milestones and deliverables
• Use appropriate methodologies e.g. empirical surveys, interviews, focus groups to collect data for analyses
• Analyse data using appropriate research analysis techniques and analysis software
• Build and maintain appropriate relationships with other academic researchers, funders, industry and government officials.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage and conduct a specific programme of research and scholarship as part of the research programme described above.
• Disseminate the outcomes of this research and scholarship including peer-reviewed academic publications of international standing.
• Take a leading role in the further development of the research programme and in seeking and pursuing appropriate external funding.
• Participate fully in the wider research and scholarly activities of the School, Institute and University.
• Where appointed to do so by the University, supervise graduate research students as co-supervisor
• Mentor and assist students and early stage researchers in your group, School and Institute.
• Take responsibility for, manage and conduct administrative and management tasks associated with your programme of research
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by your School or Institute, or the University and where applicable your Principal Investigator.
• Engage in teaching and teaching support as assigned by your Head of School under the direction of a tenured member of the academic staff.

Particular to this position:

• The successful candidate will be offered a ‘specified purpose’ based contract aligned to the Research Project outlined above. Estimated duration: Approx. 40 months.

Salary Range €66,548 - €70,467 per annum

Appointment on the above range will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

Details on eligibility to compete and pension information is available at: https://www.ucd.ie/hr/resourcing/eligibilitytocompete/

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory

• PhD in psychology, geography, design, political science, environmental humanities, or related areas.
• Typically, a minimum of 4 years postdoctoral experience, ideally including an international element and/or policy related experience
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting research projects with stakeholders
• Expertise in social sciences research methods and data analyses
• Track record of high-quality publications and/or innovation outputs, in accord with the norms of their discipline
• Typically a minimum of 4 years postdoctoral experience, ideally including an international element and/or enterprise experience
• Demonstrable track record in the following areas:
  • Publications, as assessed by the norms of their discipline i.e. quality and impact of academic publisher, citations, ranking of journal publications etc.
  • Supervision of students, including, where appropriate contributing to undergraduate project supervision and Masters Dissertations on taught programmes.
  • Research leadership in a research group or laboratory.
  • Contribution to the writing of research proposals which are submitted to peer-reviewed funding processes.
  • Capability to exercise independence in research, as evidenced by, for example, senior authorship/sole authorship of publications and invited presentations at conferences.
• Demonstrated contribution to management of single research project (reporting, financial management, purchasing etc).
• Proven ability to coordinate overall delivery of project objectives including interdependencies across work packages
• Track record of communication research to a wide range of stake holders
• Experience of devising new methodologies to solve complex research problems
• Candidates must demonstrate how they can positively contribute to fostering an inclusive environment and a level of awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable:

• Attainment of independent funding through a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
• Innovation and commercialisation outputs, e.g. development of patents, prototypes.
• Industry collaboration or experience.
• Experience working with Government agencies, nationally or internationally.
• Desirable to have experience in interdisciplinary groups.

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:
Name: Ms. Ana Luisa Lavado
Title: Programme Manager
Email address: analuisa.lavado@ucd.ie
Telephone: N/A