Research Fellow, School of Applied Psychology

0.5 FTE, 14.5 Months, Fixed-Term, Part-Time Post

Position Summary

We invite applications from suitably qualified Senior Researchers for this half-time Research Fellow post to work on a multi-disciplinary project on Responsible Software Engineering (RSE).

People live with Algorithms, AI, Big Data, Ubiquitous and Pervasive Computing, and Decision-Support Systems. But we also live with news reports, direct experiences and concerns about scamming or phishing, about how our confidential/health records can be subject to cyber-attacks, and even about how our very on-line interactions may harm us (opening email attachments, neglecting a field in our on-line job application that automatically disqualifies us for the job). These sociotechnical systems play roles in how we live, search for information, organise, socialise, and work together. They have a strong presence in our lives, often without our knowledge, and they can impinge on how secure, trusting, or comfortable we feel with the decisions we make and the (system-mediated) actions we take. With these sociotechnical opportunities and reservations in mind, this project focuses on Responsible Software Engineering, and the reflexive practices and values entailed in it, with a view to giving focussed attention to ‘representing and enriching lived experience, supported by software, and not bounded by it’.

The RSE Project has been developed by Lero colleagues from a number of disciplinary backgrounds including: Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Applied Psychology, Sociotechnical Systems, Information Systems, and Public Engagement.  The project is organised around four challenges:

We wish to appoint an experienced Researcher to work half-time as Research Fellow. The Research Fellow will have the skills to deliver on the four challenges above. Core strengths in Software Engineering and Human Computer Interaction would be particularly valuable.  The Research Fellow will have a significant role in ensuring a strong focus on the relevance of empirical and theoretical work in the project to the practice of Software Engineering.

Applicants should have obtained their PhD in a relevant area, have significant relevant experience, and be able to demonstrate ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.

Project Title: Responsible Software Engineering (RSE) 

Post Duration: 14.5 Months

Salary:  €61,318 - €66,815 (IUA RF Salary Scale), pro rata 0.5 FTE

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.  

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor John McCarthy, School of Applied Psychology; Email: [email protected]     

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to [email protected], quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 15th March 2024.

No late applications will be accepted.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.  As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff.  We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/ and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/ and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy. 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER