Vacancies
Ad Astra PhD Scholarship in the School of Education
The UCD School of Education is seeking to recruit one PhD candidate to work on a research project exploring critical thinking and scientific reasoning. The successful applicant will be working under the supervision of Dr Olga Ioannidou and will receive a three-year scholarship covering full tuition fees, a stipend and a research fund to work at the UCD School of Education, a leader in the field of education, with over 100 years of service to the wider education community in Ireland.
The research project will explore models of teaching, learning and assessment of critical thinking skills primarily in Ireland and Europe, but proposals to examine other relevant contexts through comparative analysis are welcome. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work closely with the team of the Irish national study of primary schooling: Children’s School Lives (CSL). On successful completion of the project, the candidate will be awarded a PhD in Education from University College Dublin.
Applicants should have a strong background in education and educational research, with a keen interest in the conceptualisation and measurement of transversal skills. The successful candidate is expected to start in September 2024 and will receive the following financial support for 3 years:
- Full funding for tuition fees
- A stipend of €22,000 per annum to assist with living expenses
- Research allowance of €4,000
This is a full-time position for the three-year duration of the PhD programme. Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applications are accepted from candidates from Ireland, the EU and worldwide
- An academic background in Education
- High honours in an appropriate Master’s degree
How to apply
The application must be submitted via email to (opens in a new window)olga.ioannidou@ucd.ie no later than May 5th, 2024, 23:59 Irish Time (with ‘Ad Astra PhD application’ in the subject line of the email) and must include:
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS of 7 total score, with no band below 6.5, or alternatively a masters’ degree graded at 2:1 or above, written in English and obtained from an English speaking institution in an English speaking country, within the past 3-years from date of application)
- Diploma and Transcripts of academic records (undergraduate and postgraduates)
- A CV
- A supporting statement of no more than two pages (font size 12) outlining their academic and professional experience relevant to this project
- Two letters of recommendation
Find out more
Enquiries can be directed via email to the lead investigator, Dr Olga Ioannidou ((opens in a new window)olga.ioannidou@ucd.ie). For more information about the structure of the PhD programme in Children and Youth Studies consult the UCD School of Education website: