Research Assistantx 3 –3-Cities Project
Project Lifecourse
Institute for Lifecourse and Society, NUI Galway
Reference number: NUIG 003-15
Project Lifecourse is an exciting collaboration between three internationally recognised research centres at NUI Galway: the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (CFRC), the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP). By combining strengths in the fields of children and youth, older people, and persons with disabilities, Project Lifecourse seeks to make a substantial and enduring contribution to the growing international field of lifecourse studies.
Project Lifecourse is now seeking to recruit threeResearch Assistantsto fixed-term one year contracts. Working in collaboration with the Project Lifecourse research team, the Academic Director (Professor Thomas Scharf) and otheracademic colleagues, the Research Assistantswill be expected to support the implementation of Project Lifecourse, and in particular the second phase of the 3-Cities Project work plan.
The aim of the 3-Cities Project is to engage in a collaborative process to re-imagine services and communities to maximise participation for children and youth, older people, and people with disabilities in their localities and cities. The second phase of the project will involve working closely with children and youth, older people, persons with disabilities, public, voluntary and private organisations and stakeholders, and local communities, to explore experiences of community participation and to develop and evaluate new ways of improving that participation.
In this role you will:
- Support the completion of substantive, original community-based research, which meets the objectives of Project Lifecourse and the 3-Cities Project.
- Carry out data collection and analysis in an ethical and sensitive manner.
- Contribute to writing up research findings for publication in different forms, including research reports, policy briefs and peer-reviewed, international journals.
- Assistin engaging external networks, professional organisations and stakeholders, and local community residents to build collaborative relationships on behalf of the project.
- Help to communicate research findings to participants, stakeholders and local communities.
- Contribute to raise the national and international profile of Project Lifecourse through publications, presentations and participation in relevant conferences and seminars.
- Be expected to carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
Qualifications and Experience:
Candidates will have:
•At least a Masters degree in a relevant social science discipline, with a distinct preference for those who can demonstrate experience of community-based research and community development activities, as well as knowledge of working in research areas that relate to the human lifecourse.
•An ability to work effectively and in a mutually supportive manner within an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
•Evidence of writing for different audiences and different purposes and a desire to publish and communicate research widely.
•Evidence of conducting research in an ethical way is desirable.
•Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills.
•High levels of initiative, commitment to deadlines and team interaction.
•Knowledge and experience of using qualitativeand/or mixed-method approaches to social research is desirable, particularly in the areas of participatory researchand community development.
•Knowledge of relevant computer software (including, for example, MS Office) and experience with or willingness to learn qualitative data analysis software [e.g. NVivo].
Salary: €21,850 – 29,342 per annum.
Start date: 1stFebruary 2015or as soon as possible thereafter.
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway
For information on moving to Ireland please see
NB: Gárda clearance is a requirement for this position.
For informal discussion about this post please contact Professor Thomas Scharf at or Dr. Kieran Walsh at additional information on Project Lifecourse is available on
To Apply:
Candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV (Word or PDF format only) and the names and addresses of three referees via e-mail
Applicants must include the Ref. No. NUIG 003-15in the subject line of the email application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm onTuesday 20th January 2015.
Interviews are planned to be held on 28/29th January 2015.
National University of Ireland Galway is an equal opportunities employer
Project Lifecourse, NUI Galway
Introduction
Established in 2010, Project Lifecourse is the flagship initiative of NUI Galway’s new Institute for Lifecourse and Society. Project Lifecourse draws on the internationally recognised expertise and track record of three existing research Centres at NUI Galway: the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (CFRC), the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP). By combining strengths in the areas of children, youth, older people and persons with disabilities, Project Lifecourse seeks to make a major contribution to the growing international field of lifecourse studies by improving scientific and practical awareness of human capacities and capabilities across the lifecourse. Housed in new purpose-built premises for the Institute for Lifecourse and Society on NUI Galway’s attractive campus, Project Lifecourse has the ambition to act as a catalyst for social policy innovation, translational research and practice learning of national and international significance.
In brief, Project Lifecourse sets out to achieve the following objectives:
- Ideas: Re-think major questions (such as the ageing of our population) confronting both society and individual citizens;
- Assets and Resources: Make the most of existing assets and resources to deliver effective research, teaching and policy that helps shape and change social policies and services in Ireland and internationally;
- Innovation: Stimulate innovative and integrated approaches to addressing major social challenges facing Ireland and other nations; and
- Collaboration: Promote collaboration across disciplines and institutions, both nationally and internationally.
The 3-Cities Project
The 3-Cities Project, which commenced in October 2013, focuses on Galway, Limerick and Dublin and involves close collaboration with statutory and non-statutory agencies, community stakeholders, services providers and, crucially, local citizens. The Project uses a mixed-method approach involving qualitative data collection, desk-based research, participatory methods and data triangulation. The 3-Cities Project has five objectives:
- Capture the diverse life-course perspectives of children and youth, older people and people with disabilities, on community participation, and integrate their voices into policy and practice innovation.
- Explore the role of community and city contexts in shaping the participatory experiences of children and youth, older people and people with disabilities.
- Critically review existing service infrastructure for supporting participation amongst children and youth, older people and people with disabilities in community and city life.
- Underpinned by a commitment to citizen engagement, develop a shared understanding of the assets and opportunities of community living across the life course, with children and youth, older people, persons with disabilities, and local and regional stakeholders.
- Develop, implement and evaluate integrative models for participation that support and enable children and youth, older people and people with disabilities.