Job Title: Post-Doctoral Researcher

Department: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery

Reporting to: Dr Catherine Fitzgerald

Location: 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2

Contract/Duration: Full-time, Specified purpose contract up to 12 months

Closing Date: 16th of July 2025

RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health”. We seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2025-2029” at RCSI. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent. 

Innovating for a Healthier Future 2023-2027 is RCSI’s new five-year strategic plan. Through it, RCSI will enhance human health by meeting the health workforce needs of society, creating the insights and inventions that drive health improvements, and working in partnership with patients and the public in support of better health and well-being for all. The strategy unites the RCSI community in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals – with a particular focus on Goal 3, which targets good health and well-being.

For each of the last six years, RCSI has been positioned in the Top 300 of universities worldwide in the Times Higher World University Rankings. We are proud that RCSI ranks fifth in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG #SDG Impact Rankings 2024. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. In 2024, RCSI was delighted to be named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in Ireland. 

At RCSI, our core values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship, and Innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every colleague is valued and empowered to thrive. Our dedication to these values ensures that we foster a culture of mutual respect, open collaboration, continuous learning, and innovative thinking. Join us at RCSI, where your contributions will be recognised, and you will be part of a dynamic team making a real impact on global health.

About Our Research 

RCSI recognises that excellence in research is critical to the quality of its educational activities, its credibility, and, overall, to its mission to enhance human health. RCSI’s research strategy aims to build upon its strength in translational biomedical and clinical research to deliver transformational, high impact changes in health care. Targeting both Irish national and EU funding, along with increased collaboration with industry, is a major part of the RCSI research strategy. Forging increased collaboration between RCSI PIs and industry is of critical importance to achieving success in this area. RCSI is also committed to provide its researchers with the supports and developmental opportunities to enable them to continuously grow and support their overall career development.

Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI - Post-Doctoral Researcher

1. Job Title and Summary

The European Centre of Excellence for Research in Continuing Professional Development (UPGRADE) is located within the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI. The aim of UPGRADE is to establish a pan-European network of researchers, clinicians, regulators and professional bodies to advance the science of continuing professional development (CPD) through research, fostering partnerships that enable knowledge exchange to attain CPD best practices across Europe.

We have three critical goals:

• To support collaborative research projects among European and national partners.
• To build networks among academic and clinical practice colleagues and organisations to boost CPD research.
• To develop and strengthen national CPD systems in European countries through data-driven knowledge about CPD best practice.

UPGRADE is seeking a Post-Doctoral Researcher to work directly with the PI, Dr Catherine Fitzgerald, on progressing and expanding designated research projects focused on the development of the Centre. This role will include responsibilities relating to managing day to day activities of existing research grants and generating new research funding, and translating outputs for academic publication, intellectual property and commercialisation. 

The role will require you to work closely in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including national and international collaborators, industry partners and grant funding bodies. 

You will be directed by and under the supervision of the Centre’s Principal Investigator Dr Catherine Fitzgerald (or their nominee) for the listed activities unless otherwise stated. You will be expected to carry out the below list of responsibilities together with any additional duties requested of you by your Principal investigator. 

2. Responsibilities

Research

• Conduct individual and/or collaborative research to the highest ethical standards in a variety of settings.
  • Carry out any administrative and management work associated with your programme of research.
  • Substantially contribute to the identification of external funding sources, the preparation of grant proposals and the assessment of research findings for potential commercial exploitation.
  • Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which you are engaged in for relevant research stakeholders in the appropriate form.
  • Problem-solve research challenges.
  • Contribute discrete components of a larger project under the general direction of a senior or principal researcher.
  • Prepare complete documentation of research activities for reference purposes, including following applicable data management protocols.
  • Analyse, interpret, and document research findings for review.
  • Compare actual and expected results and suggest solutions to correct the deviations.
  • Evaluate existing research and recommend improvements to ensure quality and productivity.
  • Assist in the preparation of proposals and reports.

Contribution to Research Group and University 

• Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of your research group and contribute to its profile by participating in promotional activity.
• Participate in internal/external networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• Participate in virtual meetings and managing tasks across different time zones.

3. Skills and Qualifications

Knowledge and Expertise 

• Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and field.
• Demonstrates the ability to generate new ideas and link and build upon existing ideas to generate unique concepts and solutions with integrity.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the policy, practices and procedures that are relevant to the role. This will include knowledge and understanding of Research Ethics, and may also include broader University, sector, and external sponsor or funder policies.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the operational and management requirements of a successful research project.
• Proficiency with remote work tools.

Research Environment 

• Demonstrates evidence of research activity and a commitment to ongoing research and publications.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the research environment both nationally and internationally and the ability to contribute substantially to grant applications.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the commercialisation process.
• Demonstrates good communication, mentoring, and interpersonal skills with the capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
• Demonstrates an ability to manage self, time, resources, and people to enable a high level of personal effectiveness.

Person Specification Essential:

• PhD degree in an education or social science discipline.
• Has a track record in research, academic writing, conference and presentation skills.
• Has excellent computer, and verbal & written communication skills.
• Previous experience of both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, interpretation and presenting results.

Person Specification Desirable:

• Has an effective communication style, appropriate to audience and situation.
• Has a strong commitment to own personal and professional development.
• Has excellent time-management skills in order to effectively progress across all three domains of responsibilities (teaching, research and service).
• Can build and maintain strong working relationships.
• Has a proven ability to work both independently and in a team.

We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — we’d love to hear from you. 

Application Process

Please apply online through the RCSI careers portal on the closing date with your CV and cover letter. 

Click here to read our Recruitment and Selection Policy for Researcher.

Informal Enquiries: 

Informal enquiries are invited in the first instance through Clarissa Disconzi, Human Resources Department (email: clarissadisconzi@rcsi.ie). All applications for this post must be made through the career's webpage www.rcsi/careers. Clarissa can arrange for relevant queries on the academic aspects of the role to be addressed by the hiring manager.  Please note we do not accept CVs directly.

Employee Benefits

At RCSI, we help care for our people so they can focus on our mission to Educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health. RCSI truly goes above and beyond to support its employees, ensuring they have everything they need to thrive both personally and professionally. Here's a glimpse of the fantastic benefit available:

Health and Wellbeing:

• Our Inspire Programme promotes the importance of taking care of both our general health and mental health. Inspire manages the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offered through SpectrumLife. Past events held by Inspire have included, workshops on mindfulness practices, yoga, nutritional advice, financial advice on mortgages, pensions & health insurance from leading experts, fitness challenges, baking competitions, weight loss programmes, annual flu vaccination campaign and many more. 
• You can also enjoy access to an onsite gym for just €10 per month. 

Work –Life Balance: 

• Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for fostering employee well-being, productivity, and overall satisfaction. At RCSI, we offer flexible working arrangements, study leave, and career breaks. In addition to 20 days of annual leave, employees receive an extra 6.5 days of university privilege days, which occur annually around the Christmas and Easter breaks. 

Family Benefits: 

• RCSI offers enhanced family leave to our working parents with fully paid Maternity, Adoptive, Paternity and Surrogacy Leave. We also offer the first two weeks of Parents leave fully paid for, as well as the option to take Parental Leave until your child is 18 years old. We provide access to Platform 55, a new Parents Platform to support staff before, during, and after becoming a parent. We also offer flexible working, discounted Giraffe crèche services of up to 20% and a Parents and Carers’ Network.

Financial Security: 

• Benefit from automatic enrolment in a pension scheme with Willis Towers Watson with the employer contributions increasing with your length of service, Death in Service of up to 4 times your salary, long-term illness and disability income replacement, and free advice on health, motor, and home insurance.

Discounted Services: 

• Avail of discounted GP services, Taxsaver commuter tickets, the BiketoWork scheme, free eye tests at the National Optometry Centre, and discounted parking at St. Stephen's Green/RCSI car park.

Recognition: 

• At RCSI, we value and recognise the contributions of our staff through various awards and events, such as Long Service recognition, the Vice Chancellor Staff Awards, and through Research Day. 

Professional Growth: 

• RCSI’s Staff Learning and Development is committed to providing colleagues with opportunities and support to help them reach their full potential and thrive at work. Offerings include a comprehensive programme of staff training, management and leadership development, mentoring, coaching and funding support for further study.

Staff Networks: 

• Additionally, we support a range of staff networks, including the Women’s Network, Postdoctoral Staff Network, Parents & Carers’ Network, Project Manager’s Network, LGBTI+ Network, Age Friendly Network etc. These networks help RCSI to foster a sense of community and inclusivity.

Sports and Social Club: 

• Engage in a variety of activities such as Yoga, Pilates and a variety of different Fitness classes. Enjoy social evenings, Book Clubs, Summer BBQs and one-off events like the Taste of Dublin, Bloom, Dublin Horse Show and Dublin Zoo. We also have a variety of discount tickets for shows and events through the year.

Note: This job description may be subject to change to reflect the evolving requirements of the Department and RCSI. Similar vacancies that arise in the next 6 months may be filled from the pool of applicants that apply for this position.  RCSI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or race. RCSI is committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across everything we do. This ensures we can all work and learn in an environment defined by dignity and respect. Eligibility to work in Ireland is a requirement of this role, Proof of eligibility documentation will be required at a later date. Under limited and specific circumstances (research/ specialist roles) RCSI may be in a position to seek   a hosting agreement and/or work permits. Employees are required to undertake 6 months service in their current role before applying for other internal opportunities, unless agreed in advance by the SMT representative