Postdoctoral Researcher

18 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

RCSI - Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Department

Human Resources

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Other

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Ireland

Application Deadline

8 Feb 2024 - 00:00 (Europe/Dublin)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

39

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Title:                                 Postdoctoral Researcher

Department:                 Department of Psychiatry

Tenure:                            Specified Purpose – up to 39.5 months, full-time

Location:                         RCSI Education & Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9

Salary:                              euro 51,961.00 (1FTE, 39.5 months: PD 2, pt 2),

Flexible working arrangements, including working hours and location positively fostered.

Closing date for

application:                   February 7th 2024

 

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a degree-awarding health sciences institution specialising in medical and health sciences education, surgical training and research. As a global institution with undergraduate medical programmes in Dublin, Bahrain and Malaysia; Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Physiotherapy, Postgraduate Studies and Nursing and Midwifery; and Leadership Institutes in Ireland and Dubai, RCSI has a broad international reach and the ability to unlock significant advancement for patient safety and clinical outcomes worldwide.

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. Recently, RCSI has implemented a new research strategy that will 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.

 

 

 

Background to this post:

Are you an excellent early/mid career researcher interested in improving the health of young people in Ireland and globally? If so this 39.5 month research fellow post is for you. It is a unique opportunity.

 

This post-doctoral research post will be a key position in the VISTA (Vision to Action for promoting Mental Health and Recovery) team.  VISTA was one of eight projects to get multi-million euro APRO (Applied Programme) awards from the Health Research Board at the end of 2023 (see  https://www.hrb.ie/?id=223&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=1498&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=506de3816d34a7f6cfcde0cba37de4be and RCSI’s promotion of this grant funding  

https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=RCSI+APRO+award&cvid=4542765b58324fab9fa235d47d491967&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDk3MjdqMGoxqAIAsAIA&FORM=ANSPA1&DAF0=1&PC=U531 .

 

The APRO awards are Health Research Board Funded and represent a major investment by the governement of Ireland to support research to support policy implementation and clinical practice.

 

Our programme of research, VISTA, focusses on supporting the implementation of Sharing the Vision’ (StV),  the new 10-year mental health policy developed by The Department of Health, Ireland and launched in 2021.  StV emphasises the importance of mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and recovery, and recognises the need for a whole of population approach.

The VISTA research programme seeks to progress the translational "policy to practice" pathway of Ireland’s mental health policy ‘Sharing the Vision’ (StV) through six work packages. It is a prestigious 2.5 million euro national programme of research involving leads in mental health research and implementation science, public patient involvement and policy across multiple universities in Ireland. Those participating in this programme will become a part of an active ambitious, ground- breaking research and policy implementation team with huge opportunities for cross-fertilisation and career development on the national and international stage.   Many of the Irish leaders in mental health research, policy and implementation are PIs and co-applicants on this award and uniquely they are collaborating in a unique ground-breaking manner in this award. Through the wealth of the PIs international expertise and contacts the postdoc in this project will be able to gain international placement experience and broaden their horizons. Projects in VISTA centre on mental health aspects of Social Media, Digital Mental Health, Physical and Sexual Health, Implementation Science, Public Patient Involvement and Recovery.

 

This postdoctoral fellowship position will work on the work-package (‘PROGRESS’ – see application which is available upon request) where the research will identify risk factors associated with mental health outcomes and recovery.  This is a unique aspect of this proposal – our focus on recovery and the identification of factors that individuals can use and apply themselves to promote their own recovery. 

Specifically the postdoctoral researcher will undertake research examining personally modifiable factors associated with recovery from mental illness. The quantitative evidence has largely identified characteristics that the person with a mental health problem may have little control over. The work package aims to quantitatively identify personally modifiable factors (factors that a person has direct control over and changing these factors do not require third party involvement) that are associated with recovery, using both Irish and international data. Qualitative research will focus on young people with a history of mental health problems and relevant stakeholders. We will investigate the barriers and facilitators to implementing modifiable factors in the young people’s lives and discuss solutions to these barriers. These analyses will largely be based on already available data sets from Growing up in Ireland and the Avon Longiutudinal Study of Parents and Children.  

 

This project team is led by Professors David Cotter and Drs Colm Healy, David Mongan and Professor Mary Cannon with intrinsic multidisciplinary and inter-institutional support from other Project leads and PIs including Professors Catherine Darker (Implementation Science, TCD), Sara Burke (Policy, TCD), Rebecca Murphy (Social Sciences and Implementation Science, DCU) , Colm McDonald (Psychiatry UG), Gary Donohue (Psychology, UG), Louise Doyle (Nursing, TCD) and others.    

Specifically, the duties of the post are: 

• Manage and conduct in activities associated with the research group project to include preparation and submission of the necessary research ethics applications, project and individual authorisations, delivery of appropriate training, and contribute to experimental design and post study analysis.
• Undertake statistical and bioinformatics analysis
• Review of study designs and statistical analysis plans as required.
• Review of draft progress reports.
• Support the preparation of scientific reports and grant review reports as required.
• Writing of peer-review publications and presentations.
• Academic supervision of students and (technical) research staff, as required.
• Other such duties as may be assigned from time to time.
• Complying with statutory legislation and Department rules and requirements in furtherance of your own and general staff welfare and safety.
• Undergoing programmes of training and development as may be required from time to time.
• Representing the best interests of the Department/College at all times.

Position specification

The successful candidate is required to have the following:

                        Essential qualifications include:

• PhD in a relevant field, ideally severe mental illness, clinical neuroscience/psychiatric disorders with high level experimental experience biostatistical skills. 

 

Desirable attributes include:

• Very strong research skills and a proven track record in publication of good research in this area.
• An understanding of the field of severe psychiatric disorders including psychosis.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Experience with mixed methods
• Experience with recruitment and or working with vulnerable populations.
• Attention to detail and thoroughness in work practices and an ability to work to deadlines
• A capacity to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently, in a nonstructured environment
• An ability to win the confidence of stakeholders, researchers and research partner representatives
• An ability to foster and sustain academic relationships internally and externally

 

Skills & Competencies:

• Project Management Skills: Ability to ensure that project plans are communicated and that all timelines are met
• Self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team: Ability to operate effectively as part of a team – is cordial, tolerant and willing to help others, is co-operative and patient; shares work and information; establishes rapport, can influence and develop effective networks
• I.T. skills:  Knowledge of MS Office suite.  Relevant statistical packages (such as stata, R or SPSS).
• Conscientious: Have a pro-active approach to work, anticipating and resolving problems in advance; have keen attention to detail - from anticipating and addressing issues in advance to understanding requests and delivering quality work with minimal errors.
• Flexibility: Can operate flexibly within a busy environment; can shift focus when required.
• Customer Focus: Have strong customer service skills. Be able to communicate with a high level of initiative, tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Motivated: Display a ‘can-do’ attitude, be committed to RCSI ORI and its development;demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for the role.

 

                        Application Information: 

Please apply online with your CV and Covering Letter no later than 5pm on the closing date.

 

If you have any queries regarding the role please contact Professor David Cotter ([email protected] ), Dr Colm Healy Honorary Lecturer ([email protected] ), Department of Psychiatry, RCSI.

 

Please click here to read our Recruitment and Selection Policy for Researchers.   

 

Please Note: 

This job description may be subject to change to reflect the evolving requirements of the Department and RCSI in developing healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide.

 

Similar vacancies that arise in the next 6 months may be filled from the pool of applicants that apply for this position. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

If you have any particular requirements for your interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at your earliest convenience.

Requirements

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Other

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Country

Ireland

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://my.corehr.com/pls/coreportal_rcsip/erq_jobspec_details_form.jobspec?p_i…

Contact

State/Province

Dublin

City

Dublin 2

Website

http://www.rcsi.ie/careers

Street

123 St Stephen's Green

Postal Code

Co.Dublin

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

0877558652

STATUS: EXPIRED