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Postdoctoral Researcher in Political Communication

Employer
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Closing date
5 Jul 2022

Job Description

Research Centre Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo)
Post title Postdoctoral Researcher in Political Communication
Level on Framework Level 1
Post duration 18 month Fixed Term Contract (Full-Time)

Dublin City University

Dublin City University www.DCU.ie is a young, ambitious and vibrant University, with a mission ‘to transform lives and societies through education, research, innovation and engagement’. Known as Ireland’s ‘University of Enterprise and Transformation’, it is committed to the development of talent, and the discovery and translation of knowledge that advances society and the economy. DCU is the Sunday Times Irish University of the Year 2021.

The University is based on three academic campuses in the Glasnevin-Drumcondra region of north Dublin. It currently has more than 18,000 students enrolled across five faculties – Science and Health, DCU Business School, Computing and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences and DCU Institute of Education. DCU is committed to excellence across all its activities. This is demonstrated by its world-class research initiatives, its cutting-edge approach to teaching and learning, its focus on creating a transformative student experience, and its positive social and economic impact. This exceptional commitment on the part of its staff and students has led to DCU’s ranking among the top 2% of universities globally. It also consistently features in the world’s Top 100 Young Universities (currently in QS Top 70 Under 50, Times Higher Top 150 Under 100).

DCU is placed 84th in the world, in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings – measuring higher education institutions’ contributions towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Over the past decade, DCU has also been the leading Irish university in the area of technology transfer, as reflected by licensing of intellectual property.

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.

Background & Role

The DCU Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) is a multidisciplinary research centre focused on the digital transformation of media, democracy, and society. FuJo investigates how to counter digital threats; enhance public participation through democratic innovations; and secure the sustainability of high-quality journalism and media.

FuJo is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work on an EU-funded project called EUComMeet with a large team from across the EU. The researcher will work on the work package on reflexivity in deliberation and countering misperceptions. Experimental survey and statistical skills are core requirements for this role.

The Institute for Future Media and Democracy and Society

FuJo is an innovative and experimental space for journalism and media research. It provides a platform where journalists, communication scholars, social and data scientists, software engineers and philosophers can come together. We will test thinking, create new formats, bounce new ideas and technologies and research best practice.

The Institute brings the experience and reach of DCU’s top rated School of Communications and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences together with researchers from the DCU arms of the SFI research centres, the Insight Centre for Data Analytics and the ADAPT Centre for Content Creation, along with the Institute of Ethics and the Centre for Cloud Computing.

EUComMeet - Developing Participatory Spaces using a Multi-stage, Multi-level, Multi- mode, Multi-lingual, Dynamic Deliberative approach (M4D2)

EUComMeet is funded under H2020: Governance: RIA. It brings together a consortium of 9 partners including: Università degli Studi di Siena (UNISI); Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC); Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU); University of Warsaw (UW); Dublin City University (DCU); Tour4EU; University of Stuttgart (USTUTT); Missions Publiques (MP) and Université Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis (UP8). It is led by Università degli Studi di Siena.

Role Profile

Dublin City University is seeking applications for a post-doctoral researcher to work on the EUComMeet project which aims at exploring under which conditions deliberation and representation can be an effective “response to the challenges besetting liberal representative democracies.” In order to do so, EUComMeet intends:

  1. To experiment with ways of systematically embedding deliberative practices and institutions in the multilevel system of governance and representation of the European Union;
  2. To explore under which conditions deliberation and participation can help, reduce polarisation, strengthen European identity, encourage inclusiveness and citizens’ reflectivity, and narrow the representative gap between policymakers and citizens.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will report to the Principal Investigator and the duties and responsibilities of the post include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Conduct a specified programme of research under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI).
  • Assist the PI in the management and coordination of key aspects of the research programme (e.g. reporting, partner meetings, administrative work).
  • Design and analyse experimental survey experiments.
  • Mentor, guide, assist, and supervise postgraduate research students and junior research staff as required.
  • Engage with internal and external stakeholders including academic and industry partners/collaborators as appropriate.
  • Disseminate the outcomes of the research including publishing in high-quality peer reviewed journal articles, conference papers, reports and accessible online resources.
  • Assist, as required, with the development of proposals for research funding.
  • Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities as required.
  • Contribute to reporting and other administrative work associated with the project.
  • Other general duties in relation to the running of FuJo grant applications and management.

Qualifications and experience

Applicants must have a PhD in political science, communications, psychology or related discipline and a minimum of 1 year’s relevant postdoctoral research experience or equivalent. This post will specifically focus on the work package on citizens’ reflectivity and knowledge and experience of experimental methods is essential.

In addition, it is desirable that the candidate has:

  • Strong administration skills
  • Excellent communication and organisational skills
  • Candidates should also be able to work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Experience of teaching and administration in higher education
  • Ability to work in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Ability to work in Stata/ R for data analysis
  • Relevant peer-reviewed publications in international journals

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

Essential Training

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

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