CLOSED – Applications Invited for 2 Postdoctoral Positions in ‘Creative Futures’

Postdoctoral Researchers – ‘Creative Futures’
College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies, NUI Galway
Ref. No. NUIG RES 126-21
2 x Full-time, Fixed-Term Posts Available (2 Years)

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for two, two-year, fixed-term appointments as Postdoctoral Researchers in Creative Futures with the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies at NUI Galway. These positions are available from 1st October 2021 for a duration of two years.

Job Description:
The appointees will conduct research in Creative Futures under the direction of Professor Rebecca Braun as PI, Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies at NUI Galway. Creative Futures is an emerging area of expertise that fuses futures thinking and creative practice as a method for intervening in policy and broader systems-thinking, including tackling global challenges. As such, it draws on the full range of disciplinary expertise represented in the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies. This particular project develops a Creative Futures approach with wider policy applications specifically in and through literature. It aims to weave together 3 core strands of research from the following list: Digital/Virtual Literatures/Humanities; Climate Change; Global Citizenship and Social Inclusion; Literacy, Language and Translation.

The College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies consists of eight Schools that are at the cutting edge of theory and practice in the wide range of subjects offered within our taught and research programmes. The College is also home to three internationally distinct research institutes that contribute to NUI Galway’s mission to serve the public good. These include the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities & Social Studies, where these posts will be housed and which provides a particularly supportive environment for early career researchers. Successful applicants will have direct access to numerous peers engaged in wide-ranging research, funded by the IRC, ERC, Marie Curie and other schemes. The College acts as a partner and a champion for much of the creative arts within the city and is the leading international centre for the study of Irish drama, theatre and performance. It is equally well known for its work in Coastal and Marine Environments and researchers in this area are currently leading a suite of EU-funded projects around sustainability.

For these posts, we are seeking to appoint two postdoctoral researchers who will each bring a distinct angle to a book-length project on Literary Futures and develop this in direct collaboration with one another and the project lead, Professor Rebecca Braun. Duties will entail designing a robust methodology appropriate to the angle being developed, carrying out desk and/or field research and/or delivering co-designed workshops, and writing up findings in the form of co-authored book chapters and articles. Applicants should make clear in their application how their research to date equips them with a grounding in the emerging area of Creative Futures and set out the particular angle they would bring to this project. A plan for onward funding of this research is also required.

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential criteria:

• An awarded PhD in any of: Creative Arts / Arts Practice; Digital Humanities; Education; Environmental Science (with an emphasis on science communication) Literary Studies; Modern Languages (with an emphasis on comparative cultural studies and/or translation); Political Science; Social Policy; Sociology
• A track record of independent published work (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles / book chapters; briefing papers)
• A demonstrable professional interest in literature / story-telling
• Experience of interdisciplinary research or working as part of a research team
• A clear and compelling statement of the new research angle to be developed as part of this project and plans for onward funding

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of co-authoring academic work
• Experience running creative-practice-led workshops or otherwise engaging creatively with stakeholder groups
• A track record of attracting research funding
• Familiarity with futures techniques and/or policy development

Salary: €38,632 per annum pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts

Start date: Positions are available from October 1, 2021

Continuing Professional Development/Training:
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway Researchers at NUI Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. NUI Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia. Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment – see www.nuigalway.ie/rdc for further information.

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Rebecca Braun, Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies: rebecca.braun@nuigalway.ie

For further information on the project see here.

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 mooreinstitute@nuigalway.ie

Please put reference number NUIG RES 126-21 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm, 16th July 2021

Interviews are planned to be held week commencing 26th July 2021

Due to the University closure related to COVID-19, interviews will have to take place virtually and start dates may need to be delayed

NUI Galway reserve the right to readvertise or extend the closing date for this post.

National University of Ireland Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment.