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Postdoctoral Researcher Level 1 on DCU Research Career Framework

Employer
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Closing date
26 Jul 2019

View more

Academic Discipline
Law, Social Sciences, Sociology
Job Type
Academic Posts, Postdocs
Contract Type
Fixed Term
Hours
Full Time

Project: Mapping the Lived Experience of Intersex in Ireland: Contextualising Lay and Professional Knowledge to Enable Development of Law and Policy
School: School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
Contract Duration: Fixed Term 18 month Contract from 1st October 2019
Funding: Externally Funded by IRC COALESCE 2018

Dublin City University

DCU (www.dcu.ie) is a research-intensive, globally-engaged, dynamic institution. With 5 Faculties and 24 Schools, DCU is distinguished by both the quality and impact of its graduates and its focus on the translation of knowledge into societal and economic benefit. Through its mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation, DCU acts as an agent of social, cultural and economic progress. As Ireland’s University of Enterprise, DCU is characterised by a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship and a track-record of effective engagement with the enterprise sector. Excellence in its education and research activities has led to its consistent position in the rankings of the world’s top young universities (e.g. QS top 50 Under 50). We offer a dynamic and internationally-focused environment in which to advance your academic career.

The School of Law and Government

The School of Law and Government at Dublin City University engages in cutting-edge research on national and international legal issues, and local, national and global political challenges. We deliver a suite of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as supervising postgraduate research at both Masters and PhD level. The School also hosts the Law Research Centre, wherein our legal scholars explore the impact that law has on society and how society can impact upon the evolution of law. Our research moves beyond doctrinal analysis to engage the lived experiences of those subject to the law and to analyse the development of the law in its political, social and economic contexts.

Project Background

Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, School of Law and Government and Prof Anthony Staines and Dr Mel Duffy in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences, DCU are working on a project mapping lived experience of Intersex in Ireland that is funded by the Irish Research Council under the Coalesce 2018 funding call.

Intersex is an umbrella term for a variety of bodily configurations where a person’s sex characteristics do not align in the manner typically expected of male or female bodies. Having an intersex body is not inherently dangerous to either one’s life or health. Yet since the mid-twentieth century medical professionals have intervened to resculpt intersex bodies along more traditional sex lines. This has proved controversial and many intersex adults decry the interventions experienced in childhood. Such interventions have been compared to female genital mutilations and the UN has deemed them to be ‘torture-like’. Twice in 2016 the UN asked Ireland to account for how the rights of Irish intersex children are protected. As intersex is shrouded in secrecy, stigma and shame, it is a hidden reality and there is no research available on the lived experience of intersex in Ireland.

The project will plug that gap, by interviewing intersex people, their families and the medical professionals who treat them to uncover how Irish intersex people experience being intersex in our society. The project will then map this experience onto Ireland legal obligations to identify the strengths and weaknesses in Irish legal protection for this marginalised and vulnerable community. Ultimately it will enable the development of law, policy and guidelines to improve the lived experience of intersex in Ireland.

Principal Duties:

Reporting to the Principal Investigator the duties of the Postdoctoral Researcher will include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  1. Conduct the specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator 
  2. Deliver research outputs and provide input into reports as required according to project management schedules 
  3. Attend and present results as required at project progress meetings 
  4. Assist in identifying and developing future research and funding initiatives 
  5. Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research with the support of and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator 
  6. Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, the School or Research Centre, or the University. 
  7. Engage in teaching and teaching support as assigned by the Head of School under the direction of the Principal Investigator 
  8. Liaise with both internal and external stakeholders including industry and academic partners/collaborators. 
  9. Carry out administrative work associated with the programme of research as necessary.

Minimum Criteria

  • The successful applicant will hold a PhD in law, sociology or a related discipline 
  • Ability to work sensitively with a range of stake holders including intersex people, their families and healthcare professionals.
  • Strong critical, analytical and professional writing abilities.
  • Excellent research and evaluation skills, including experience in empirical research. 

Desirable Criteria

  • Knowledge of intersex and/or LGBT+ law and social policy at national and international levels.
  • Experience working in the intersex and/or LGBT+ area.
  • Knowledge of the value of activism and advocacy as tools for sociolegal change.
  • Ability to identify own training needs.
  • Ability to engage in reflective practice.

Ideally, the successful candidate will work full-time. However, applications from candidates who are available to work 4 days per week (80% FTE) will also be considered.

Please note this appointment will be subject to the candidate successfully completing the Garda Vetting and Foreign Police Certification Processes. 

Informal enquiries:

Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Assistant Professor in Law, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University. Email: tanya.nimhuirthile@dcu.ie

Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.

Further information:

More information about the DCU School of Law and Government can be found at: https://www.dcu.ie/law_and_government/index.shtml  

Research Career Framework 

As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path.

Salary:  €37,223.00 per annum (Postdoctoral Researcher IUA Level 2 Pt 1)*  *Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience

Closing date: 26th July 2019

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline.
  • Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications 
  • Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students 
  • Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students 

Application Procedure:

Application forms are available from the DCU Current Vacancies (open Competitions) website at http://www.dcu.ie/vacancies/current.shtml and from the Human Resources Department, Dublin City University, Dublin 9. Tel: +353 (0) 1 8842112.

Please clearly state the role that you are applying for in your application and email subject line: Job Ref #RF1248 Postdoctoral Researcher

Applications should be submitted by email to hr.applications@dcu.ie or by Fax: +353 (0)1 7005500 or by post to the Human Resources Department, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.

Dublin City University is an equal opportunities employer

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