CLOSED – Research Assistant (0.2 FTE) – ‘A Visual History Archive for the University of Galway’

Moore Institute, College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies

Ref. No. University of Galway 025-23

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time (0.2 FTE), fixed term position as a research assistant with the Moore Institute at the University of Galway, Galway, working with a Project Team from the Retired Staff Association / Agallamh na Seanórach assembling elements of a Visual History of the University of Galway.

This position is funded by the University of Galway through the President’s Fund for Research into the Institutional History of the University and is available from 27th March 2023 to the contract end date of 26th March 2024. 

The post is envisaged as requiring a commitment of one day a week for 12 months (0.2 FTE). There is scope for adjustment of the distribution of time by mutual agreement and in accordance with the flow of material to be processed.

The project:

‘A Visual History Archive for the University of Galway: The Retired Staff Collection’, seeks a Research Assistant to work on the University’s heritage and history from c. 1900 to 1995 by collecting and digitising photographic images and related information which, for the most part, will be provided by retired staff members. This work is undertaken in operational partnership with the Library, University of Galway. The resultant image and text database will be hosted as one of the Library’s Digital Collections. The person appointed will work under the direction of RSA project team members Prof. Jane Conroy, Prof. Gerard Jennings and Dr Séamus MacMathúna.

Job Description:

Working with the project team and a Library representative as directed, the successful candidate will assist in the collection of images and related data, the collation of image and text, and the creation of basic descriptive metadata for the Library and the online database; he/she will assist in the selection of images, arrange for scanning where necessary, and conduct digitisation. He/she will receive initial training in working with photographic images, be introduced to the data required for their description and to the management interface of the database. He/she will assist in liaising between members of the project team and Library staff. Desk space will be provided for the successful candidate in the Moore Institute and he/she will be invited to attend Moore Institute events.

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential Requirements:

  • Primary Degree (level 8) in history (or related/relevant discipline)
  • Experience in undertaking research in an appropriate discipline
  • Excellent IT skills, sufficient to facilitate interfacing with the archival database 
  • Excellent partnership and team skills 
  • Ability to produce accurate, high-quality work to tight deadlines 
  • Self-motivation, initiative and a flexible approach to change and work demands

Desirable Requirements:

  • familiarity with oral history methods
  • interest in image and text studies
  • experience with databases or Digital Humanities in general
  • an interest in library systems

Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post

Salary: Research Assistant Point 1 €28,701 to Point 9 €34,930 per annum, pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply).

Start date: The position is available from 27th March 2023

Continuing Professional Development/Training: 

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of 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 HERE for further information. 

Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway 

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

Further details about the Moore Institute are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/mooreinstitute.

Informal information concerning the post may be had from Prof. Jane Conroy, jane.conroy@universityofgalway.ie.

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of two referees should be sent, via e-mail (as a Word or PDF attachment only) to jane.conroy@universityofgalway.ie. Please put reference number University of Galway 025-23 in the subject line of the covering e-mail.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm (Irish Time) on Thursday, 23rd February 2023.

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post. 

University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer. 

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