Research Associate / Postdoctoral Researcher
Centre for Disability Law and Policy
School of Law
Ref. no. NUIG 97-14
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time, (80%) fixed-term contract
research position at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy. The Centre for Disability Law and Policy was
established in 2008 and is based at the School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway. It is
dedicated to producing research that informs debate on national and international disability law reform. The
Centre seeks to attract a Research Associate / Postdoctoral Researcher with a proven track record to work
on a major research project, funded under the FP7 Programme by the European Commission. DISCIT
(Making Persons with Disabilities Full Citizens - New Knowledge for an Inclusive and Sustainable European
Social Model) aims to produce new knowledge enabling Member States, affiliated European countries and
the European Union to achieve full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society and the
economy.
The post.
As part of Work Package 7 of the EU FP7 DISCIT project (http://discit.eu), the postholder will be required to
produce a report on the regulatory forces, social and market factors which can promote the inclusion of
men and women with disabilities in Europe through the use of new technologies. He/she will generate
insight about diversity and change in the effective use of new technologies, with a special focus on
comparing the experiences of three age cohorts of persons with disabilities, as a step towards the
development of more user-responsive services for ensuring accessibility and availability of new
technologies.
The report will include an overview of the accomplishments, shortcomings and possible gaps in existing
arrangements between technology delivery systems and market regulation, and potential for improvements
and better synergies between the various levels of governance.
The postholder will be expected to contribute significantly to legislative and policy submissions crafted by
the Centre and to assist in the preparation of relevant research bids (including to the EU).
Skills required.
Candidates for this post will have demonstrated research experience in the field of disability law and policy
and an advanced working knowledge of the ICT field in relation to disability, accessibility, and the
surrounding policy landscapes at European level. They will be familiar, and ideally practiced, in the aims
and goals of the EU FP7 DISCIT programme. They will possess a proven ability to work collaboratively with
a research team as well as independently. The successful candidate will have a PhD, or be close to
attaining a PhD, in a relevant field.
Further details of the Centre’s research and teaching activities are available on its website at
www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/.
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
Salary: €37,750 per annum, pro-rata for this part-time contract (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new
entrants will apply)
Start/End date: February to October 2015 (0.8FTE)
For informal queries regarding this post please contact: J.B. Terrins, at jb.terrins@nuigalway.ie or 091 492085.
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 jb.terrins@nuigalway.ie
Please put reference number NUIG-97-14 in subject line of e-mail application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm Tuesday 4th November 2014.
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer .
DRAFT JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Job Title
Research Associate /
Postdoctoral Researcher
Is post Permanent or
a Contract?
Department/Section
Current Job Holder
Centre for Disability Law and
Policy
Contract – February – October
2015
2. Background to Role:
The research programme of the Centre has grown rapidly since its set-up phase came to
an end in December 2010. In order to continue to produce high-quality research output
with significant impact on law and policy reform, the Centre requires a research associate
or postdoctoral researcher with a proven track record to work on a major research project
funded by the European Commission’s Framework Programme 7.
DISCIT (Making Persons with Disabilities Full Citizens - New Knowledge for an Inclusive
and Sustainable European Social Model) aims to produce new knowledge enabling
Member States, affiliated European countries and the European Union to achieve full and
effective participation of persons with disabilities in society and the economy.
Using the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as a
framework of reference, DISCIT identifies more effective ways to remove and prevent
physical, attitudinal, social and organisational barriers to Active Citizenship and
participation on an equal basis with others, in a context of rapid social and economic
change and evolving conceptions of disability across European societies. DISCIT
synthesises policy lessons from a strategic sample of European states: ‘Liberal’ (Ireland,
United Kingdom), ‘Conservative’ (Germany, Italy), ‘Social Democratic’ (Norway, Sweden)
and ‘Post-Communist’ (Czech Republic, Serbia) regimes.
The successful candidate will be responsible for DISCIT Work Package 8: Active
Citizenship through the Use of New Technologies.
3. Role Relationships:
In relation to role relationships, the post holder will:
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Report to the Director of the Centre and work closely with the Deputy
Director/Senior Lecturer.
Work collaboratively with the Centre research team, including research assistants
and PhD fellows, and with School of Law colleagues.
Work and liaise closely with researchers associated with Project Lifecourse and the
Institute for Lifecourse and Society.
Work with other DISCIT partners, and particularly with the co-ordinator NOVA
(Norwegian Social Science Institute).
Liaise with Centre stakeholders and associates as required.
S/he will have general contact with:

Externally, s/he will be in regular contact with many stakeholders within the disability
sector. These will include national and international parties such as:
o International organisations such as the UN, the Council of Europe and the
EU.
o National disability bodies such as the National Disability Authority and
Government Departments/Agencies.
o Civil Society: Disabled persons organisations and mental health persons
organisations,
o Universities and research centres.
4. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:
As part of Work Package 7, the postholder will be required to produce a report on the
regulatory forces, social and market factors which can promote the inclusion of men and
women with disabilities in Europe through the use of new technologies. He/she will
generate insight about diversity and change in the effective use of new technologies, with a
special focus on comparing the experiences of three age cohorts of persons with
disabilities, as a step towards the development of more user-responsive services for
ensuring accessibility and availability of new technologies.
The report should also include an overview of the accomplishments, shortcomings and
possible gaps in existing arrangements between technology delivery systems and market
regulation, and potential for improvements and better synergies between the various levels
of governance.
The postholder will be expected to contribute significantly to legislative and policy
submissions crafted by the Centre and to assist in the preparation of relevant research bids
(including to the EU).
5. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
(Write in perceived order of Importance)
The responsibilities of this post holder will be to:
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Review and synthesise existing studies of accessible technology and accessibility
law and policy in Ireland with reference to comparative research at a European
level.
Provide guidance to other DISCIT researchers in preparing literature reviews of
existing research on ICT accessibility, law and policy, at national level.
Develop an analytical framework for examining the relationship between assistive
technology delivery system and social regulation of the technology market to ensure
accessibility of new products in a multi-level system.
Participate in a coordinated set of semi-structured interviews about the life courses
of persons with disabilities born around 1950, around 1970 and around 1990,
including equal numbers of persons with difficulties in seeing, mild to moderate
psycho-social difficulties, mild to moderate intellectual and developmental
impairments and mobility difficulties, with the purpose of comparing to what extent
assistive technology delivery systems and accessibility laws an policies are
designed to meet the needs of persons with different types of disabilities.
Interview other informants (including representatives of service providers,
accessible technology developers and disabled people’s organizations) and
(re)analysis of secondary data.
Contribute to ongoing research projects in the Centre on accessible ICT.
Collaborate with other members of the research team to complete legislative and
policy submissions on behalf of the CDLP.
Assist the Senior Researcher and Business and Strategic Development Manager in
preparing funding proposals for research projects within the CDLP.
6. SPECIAL FEATURES OF JOB:
This position requires an individual with the following skill set (listed in order of
importance):
Compulsory
 Excellent and proven research experience (minimum of 3 yrs experience) in the field
of disability law and policy.
 Knowledge of the EU FP7 DISCIT programme.
 Proven awareness and advanced working knowledge of ICT field particularly in
relation to disability, accessibility, and the surrounding policy landscapes at
European level.
 Excellent and proven ability to work collaboratively with a research team.
 Excellent and proven ability to work independently and use initiative.
 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
 Exceptional level of ICT literacy.
 Team player.
 Ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
 Excellent time management skills.
 Sensitive to disability and mental health issues.
7. QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
The post-holder will have, or be close to completion of, a PhD (or equivalent
qualification or experience) in the disability field (preferably law and/or public policy).
The post-holder will have at least 3 years experience as a researcher in the area of
disability law or policy issues. They will have working knowledge and experience of
large scale EU research programmes and ideally of the EU FP7 DISCIT
programme.