Postdoctoral Research Fellow (with both Quantitative and Qualitative Skills)

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) wishes to appoint two Postdoctoral Research Fellows on a three-year fixed term basis to work on welfare related issues. The programme of research will include examining issues around workplace culture and attitudes, welfare, careers and work practices. The post also entails an adjunct position at Trinity College Dublin.

The successful candidates will work on a diversity of projects, using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research approaches. They will join a multi-disciplinary team across the ESRI of sociologists, psychologists, economists, neuroscientists, and statisticians.

Applications are welcome from researchers across any subject discipline (including sociology, social policy, psychology, economics, etc.), but with a strong record in skills associated with field-based, qualitative, and quantitative, empirical research.

The Institute

The ESRI, founded in 1960, is located in Dublin’s South Docklands area. Our mission is to produce high quality research, relevant to Ireland’s economic and social development, with the aim of contributing to knowledge and informing policymaking and public debate. We have over 100 staff including economists, sociologists and other social scientists, in addition to support and technical staff.

The results of the Institute’s research, and the policy implications that flow from it, have been the subject of a huge range of publications by ESRI staff over the last sixty years. All research projects undertaken by the ESRI have a significant public good element and results are published without restriction.

The Institute has excellent facilities and a supportive, team-oriented research culture. ESRI researchers contribute to the development of public policy across a range of issues by providing timely evidence, which shapes national and international debates. The ESRI collaborates with various government departments and agencies through multiple research programmes, addressing a broad spectrum of policy issues.

Role Description

The role will entail using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research approaches and the appointees will have demonstrated a strong record in such methods. This includes developing research approaches, data acquisition/collection, data analysis, and writing research findings. 

The successful candidate will join a core team of experienced researchers but can expect to collaborate with colleagues across the Institute. They can also expect to engage with research funders through participation in research programme steering committee meetings, and bilateral engagements with funders.  Successful candidates will be expected to communicate their research findings in local conferences to policymakers, and to the wider academic community via international conference participation, and peer-review journal article publication. 

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

-Essential

The successful candidates must be able to demonstrate skills and experience across the following:

• A PhD in any social science (mandatory);
• Qualitative research methods, including conducting qualitative interviews, focus groups and/or workshops, and undertaking qualitative data analysis;
• Quantitative research skills, including a proven ability in data analysis and model estimation (i.e., regression analysis);
• Strong computer skills, including proven ability in qualitative data analysis packages (e.g., NVivo); and quantitative data analysis packages (e.g., R, STATA, etc.);
• Experience in data collection, including quantitative survey questionnaire design, qualitative semi-structured interviewing, etc.;
• Academic writing skills and experience;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to prioritise objectives;
• The ability to work on one’s own initiative as well as in a team environment;
• Willingness to undertake training and career development;
• Peer-reviewed publications, ideally authored peer-reviewed journal articles.

-Desirable

• Record of undertaking research on public policy issues. 

Location

ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2.  Applicants should note that staff have the option of working remotely from their home in Ireland on a ‘blended’ basis with a minimum requirement of one day per week (or as business requires) based in the ESRI office.  This arrangement is running on a pilot basis. Full details will be provided at interview. 

Terms & Application Procedure

The standard working week is 35 hours, i.e., 09.30-17.30, Monday – Friday; (flexible working hours are supported). Appointments will be on a three-year, fixed-term contract basis. The starting salary will be €49,818, which is the first point of the ESRI Administrative Officer (Higher) salary scale.  

Closing date for applications is Friday, 28 November at 5pm. All applications will be acknowledged. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.

The selection process will consist of a preliminary interview and, for candidates successful at that stage, a final interview, presentation, and written assessment. The ESRI is currently conducting selection processes via videoconference (MS Teams or Zoom).

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are fundamental values in our Strategic Plan.  We recognise that a diverse workforce brings a range of perspectives and experiences that foster innovation and enriches our research. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, marital status, family status, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.    As such we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups.