Level 1
School of Arts Education & Movement
DCU Institute of Education

• 12 Month Contract

School of Arts Education and Movement

The School of Arts Education and Movement is one of the six schools within the DCU Institute of Education. The School is made up of a dynamic and unique group of scholars, researchers and teacher educators working together in collaboration and whose academic interests span teacher education, drama education, physical education, music education, art education and arts education generally, as well as a range of other interdisciplinary dimensions including creativity, inclusion, wellbeing and technology.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Education

The School of Arts Education and Movement is seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher in education with expertise in creativity and evaluation to join a team dedicated to evaluating the Creative Schools initiative over the coming years.

Applicants for the position must hold postdoctoral qualification in education, preferably in the area of evaluation, creativity, arts education or related area and have at least two years’ experience. Knowledge of the Creative Ireland agenda and the policy landscape within primary and post-primary education in Ireland is also an advantage.

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will work with the Principal Investigator and others within the research team, in School of Arts Education & Movement and in the DCU Institute of Education, on research focused on the evaluation of creativity in schools.

Reporting to the Head of School of Arts Education & Movement, the Postdoctoral Researcher will:

• Conduct the specified programme of evaluation under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator
• Deliver research outputs and provide input into reports as required according to project management schedules
• Contribute to the production of top-quality progress reports, conference and journal publications
• Report on progress at meetings and in writing
• Engage in the dissemination of the research results
• Participate in research activities in School AEM, such as research showcases and annual reviews
• Partner with Principal Investigator and design team to maximise PR opportunities through DCU’s communications and marketing departments
• Maintain an up-to-date research and professional profile on the DCU website
• Contribute constructively to the team-based ethos in the evaluation project
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities as required by the Head of School, the DCU IOE or the University.
• Carry out administrative work associated with the programme of research as necessary.

Minimum Criteria

Applicants should have a PhD in educational evaluation, measurement, psychology or related fields and be able to demonstrate a sound comprehension of the principles underpinning the theory and practice of evaluation, research design and data analysis. High level competence in written and oral communication, and social skills necessary for productive collaborations, as well as an ability to bring initiative and imagination to independent work will be required.

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 and in collaboration with industry partners.
• Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies and key industry players) and the ability to respond to demands
• Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers, with industry partners, and with 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 and post-graduate students and to meet industry partner expectations regarding project turn-around times.

Mandatory Training

The post holder will be required to undertake the following mandatory compliance training: Orientation, Health & Safety and Data Protection (GDPR). Other training may need to be undertaken when required.