UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1, UCD School of Politics and International Relations, 24 months (start in August 2023)
Applications are invited for a temporary post of a UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 within UCD School of Politics and International Relations.
Assessing and Explaining Environmental and Energy Policies in Comparative Perspective
Political parties, politicians, companies, and interest groups increasingly discuss how to achieve a net-zero carbon emissions future, but systematic evidence that tracks these political debates is still lacking. As a Postdoctoral Researcher, based at University College Dublin and under the guidance of Dr Stefan Müller, you will identify what problems political actors raise and what solutions they offer when it comes to, for example, renewable energy, sustainability, and water treatment in election manifestos, speeches, and on social media. Moreover, you will assess how companies and interest groups aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. The project combines quantitative text analysis, human coding, and supervised machine learning to identify and map (proposed) policies relating to the environment and sustainability. In addition, the project seeks to understand how themes and issues mentioned in academic publications are considered in political speech, manifestos, and on social media. The project also analyses variation in the emphasis on specific problems and solutions across parties, politicians, countries, and over time. We will also develop a novel and freely available database of texts on environmental policies for the research community and practitioners. Finally, the project will provide a list of possible solutions and strategies to address the climate emergency and reach Ireland’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
You will be embedded into the NexSys (Next Generation Energy Systems) project and the Connected_Politics Lab, an interdisciplinary hub for researchers using computational methods to study politics and society, hosted by the College of Social Sciences and Law. While maintaining and expanding your ongoing research agenda, you are invited to join additional interdisciplinary projects with researchers involved in NexSys.
NexSys – “Next Generation Energy Systems”
The decarbonisation of the Energy System will play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help mitigate the impacts of Climate Change. The technical and societal challenges inherent in decarbonisation are enduring challenges of the mid-21st century and will require a whole of society approach, encompassing academia, industry, government, and citizens.
NexSys is a newly established All Island SFI Strategic Partnership Programme focussed upon the transition to a net zero carbon energy system. It is a unique partnership bringing together a multidisciplinary research team, industry, and policymakers to tackle fundamental research questions to be addressed as part of the transition to net Zero. Hosted by UCD Energy Institute, NexSys brings together academics from nine institutions across the Island of Ireland (UCD, TCD, DCU, ESRI, Maynooth University, UCC, NUI Galway, Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast) to work together to meet the unprecedented scale and complexity of the challenges associated with the energy transition.
This is an academic research role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.
The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.
In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:
• Contribute to a novel and freely available database of texts relating to environmental policy proposals
• Location of post: University College Dublin; hybrid working very likely to be possible (candidate works a portion of their working week on campus and a portion of their working week remotely)
Salary Range: €42,033 - €48,427 per annum
Appointment on the above range will be dependent upon qualifications and experience.
Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 22nd May 2023.
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.
UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.
The PD1 position is intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.
For a full job description and to apply for the position, go to Work at UCD (Job Reference 015887)