Postdoctoral Researcher
CONSENSUS
Mobility milestones and biographies: Tracing the consumption of distance across
the life course
School of Political Science and Sociology/Ryan Institute
Ref. No. NUIG 51-14
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed term position as a
postdoctoral researcher with the School of Political Science and Sociology at the National
University of Ireland, Galway.
This position is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency Ireland and is available from 1st
October 2014 until the contract end date of 30 September 2015.
The postdoctoral researcher will join the CONSENSUS project, a seven-year collaboration
between Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway on consumption,
environment and sustainability (www.consensus.ie). The postdoctoral researcher will play a key
role in Work package 3: Transport, mobility and the consumption of distance, which is led by Dr
Henrike Rau (http://www.nuigalway.ie/soc/staff/rau_henrike.html)
Job Description:
The successful candidate will be required to carry out primary research on the topic of transport,
mobility and the consumption of distance, focusing in particular on mobility biographies. The main
task will be to develop, test and administer an online survey on mobility biographies and
milestones and to analyse, present and publish the resulting data. This will be complemented by
some theoretical work and secondary analysis of existing documentary and qualitative evidence
where appropriate. In addition, the successful candidate is expected to assist the CONSENSUS
team with administrative, outreach and dissemination activities.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should have a track record in social scientific and/or interdisciplinary transport
research and strong experience in survey design and quantitative data analysis is essential.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in social scientific/interdisciplinary transport research.
The ideal candidate would have prior experience in survey design and statistical analysis of largescale data, as evidenced by a publication record. Candidates should have excellent
communication and organizational skills and a very good command of spoken and written English.
Very good interpersonal skills and an ability to work very well both collaboratively and
independently are also essential. The candidate should be highly motivated and passionate about
social-scientific and/or interdisciplinary empirical research and should have significant experience
in quantitative data analysis.
It is also desirable that suitable candidates would have experience in some or all of the following
areas: 1) knowledge of transport policy in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, 2)
familiarity with key social-scientific and interdisciplinary debates linking transport and sustainability
questions, 3) SPSS or similar software for the statistical analysis of survey data, 4) innovative
visual presentation of quantitative transport data.
The holder of the post will work under the direct supervision of Dr. Henrike Rau, CONSENSUS
work package leader for WP3.
Salary:
€ 37,750 per annum (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will
apply). In addition to salary, a conference attendance and travel budget will be
available to the successful candidate.
Start date: Position is available from 1st October 2014
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI
Galway
For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie
Further information about the School of Political Science and Sociology is available at
http://www.nuigalway.ie/soc/
To Apply: Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees
should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Henrike Rau, email:
henrike.rau@nuigalway.ie
Please put reference number NUIG 51-14 in subject line of e-mail application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Friday, 13th June 2014.
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.