Research Associate - MARIO Study
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Ref. no. NUIG 117-15
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part time, fixed term contract
position as a Research Associate in the School of Nursing and Midwifery on an EU Horizon
2020 funded project entitled ‘Managing active and healthy aging with use of caring service
robots’ known as MARIO. The position is half-time (50%) and is available from November 2015
to contract end date of February 2018.
MARIO addresses the difficult challenges of loneliness, isolation and dementia in older persons
through innovative and multi-faceted inventions delivered by service robots. The effects of these
conditions are severe and life-limiting. They burden individuals and societal support systems.
Human intervention is costly but the severity can be prevented and/or mitigated by simple
changes in self-perception and brain stimulation mediated by robots. The proposal is
coordinated by the School of Nursing & Midwifery and involves 10 research partners from four
other countries; Italy, UK, Greece and Germany. Pilot activities and interaction with caregivers,
older persons and stakeholders are key elements of the project from beginning to finish which
provide a user led design ethos in developing the service robotic. Advances will be made in the
use of semantic data analytics, personal interaction, and unique applications tailored to better
connect older persons to their care providers, community, own social circle and also to their
personal interests. The project seeks to attain EU scientific and market leadership in service
robots with a user driven solution for the major societal challenge of loneliness and isolation in
older people, including people with dementia. The project will run over three years and
commenced in February 2015.
NUI Galway are leading and coordinating MARIO and the successful candidate will be
responsible for ensuring the successful planning, implementation and operational management
of all aspects of the MARIO study.
Job description
The postholder will be required to take an active role in all aspects of the research. In addition to
the day to day management of the project the successful candidate will be involved in some of
the practical research aspects of the project. A key part of the role will be to monitor project
deadlines, draft reports and follow up with partners in relation to deadlines. The successful
applicant will need excellent communication, project management, research and people skills.
Main duties and responsibilities:
 Co-ordinate and monitor the project plan to ensure that goals and deliverables required
to meet the research aims are achieved to deadlines
 Assist and work with the Irish research pilot sites to ensure research requirements and
deadlines are met.
 Assist in the recruitment of research participants.
 Undertake data collection and analysis
 Work with relevant stakeholders, client groups and external collaborators as appropriate
 Assist in the drafting of research papers
 Participate in research team meetings
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Compile data required for comprehensive progress reports, EU reports and
presentations.
Draft reports as required.
Coordinate the outcome measures for user sites, define standard data collection and
reporting procedures
Set up and co-ordinate research meetings both face to face and virtual meetings
including general assembly and project team meetings
Contribute to the dissemination of information and research findings;
Support data analysis and reporting of findings,
Prepare presentations for conferences;
Operate, maintain and update any web-based project-management system used in the
project e.g. BASECAMP
Take responsibility for the day to day project resources and budget management
Establish and maintain effective and efficient communication mechanism with partners
working across countries on an ongoing basis to facilitate the timely completion of work
packages, deliverables and reports
Distribute, collect and store project time sheets and monthly reports
Manage the day to day operational matters of the project with the support of the project
leader;
Develop a strategy to maintain the quality of all factors involved in the production and
development of MARIO
Record minutes of meetings as required
Assist in other reasonable research-related tasks as requested by Dr Casey or that may
be agreed with the research partners
Requirements
 A Masters in IT, Clinical Research or a related field.
 Experience of research and conducting research projects
 Experience of successful project and budget management
 Flexibility in meeting project requirements and in working across multiple projects;
 Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
 Proven track record of ability to meet deadlines, to initiate, plan, organise and deliver
programmes of work
 Excellent written and oral communication skills
 Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
 Capable of working independently and autonomously;
 Highly motivated and passionate about developing high quality research;
 Skilled at researching project-related issues and products;
 Self-motivated with strong attention to detail and quality
 Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Excel
 Clearance by Gárda vetting bureau
Desirable;
 Experience of contributing and participating on large research projects e.g. EU level
project, HRB projects
Informal enquiries may be
dympna.casey@nuigalway.ie
made
to
project
leader
Dr.
Dympna
Salary: Fixed salary at €37,750 per annum, pro-rata for this part-time post.
Casey
at
Start date: 1st November 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI
Galway
Further information about the School of Nursing and Midwifery is available at
http://www.nuigalway.ie/nursingmidwifery/
TO APPLY:
Candidates are requested to submit a covering letter, CV and the names and addresses of three
and not more than five referees via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to: Ms. Sheena Connolly
sheena.connolly@nuigalway.ie
Please put reference no. NUIG 117-15 subject line of e-mail when sending your application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Friday 2ND October 2015
Interview date: Interviews to be held week 19th October 2015.
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.