Applications for PhD Doctoral Position Sought: Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, four-year PhD research fellowship in the area of ageing and gender intersection in exclusion from social relations, to be based at the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG) in the National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Background: Social connection is a universal basic human need, but a substantial number of people in later life lack essential social resources. While gender-related risk factors exist, critical knowledge gaps remain about how age, gender, and life experiences might combine to create social relations exclusion. Further, why significant variations exist across countries (welfare and cultural systems) in gendered experiences of social relations is poorly understood.
Fellowship Details: This fellowship will be awarded as a part of the GENDER-Net Plus funded cross national research study entitled ‘A life-course perspective on the GENdered PATHways of exclusion from social relations in later life, and its consequences for health and wellbeing’ – GENPATHS. The successful candidate will be under the supervision of Professor Kieran Walsh and Dr. Aine Ni Leime, and will use qualitative research methods to understand what exclusion from social relations means for the everyday lives and identities of older men and women.
In conjunction with their supervisors, the successful candiate will:
- Design their research aim and objectives, within the parameters of the GENPATHS research programme.
- Develop and refine the Irish qulitative data collection of the GENPATHS study as a part of their doctoral study programme.
- Conduct at least 30 in-depth inteviews with older men and women on the topic, and develop other aspects of their research to acheive their project aim.
- Actively contribute to the cross-national GENPATHS team, in terms of methodological development, data-collection and data analysis.
- Develop and publish peer-review articles based on their research study, and where appropriate contribute to other GENPATHS outputs, such as policy briefs and project reports.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will meet the following essential criteria:
- Masters degree and excellent track record of academic acheivment in a relevant social science discipline;
- Demonstrable interest in and commitment to researching areas that relate to ageing and the human life course;
- Demonstrable understanding of basic research methods and concepts related to the topic;
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively;
- Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills.
It is also desirable that candidates have the following:
- Experience of using qualitative approaches in social research;
- Experience of conducting research with older people on related topics;
The Fellowship award will be €93,000 in total – this amount comprises a maintenance award to the student from which fees (EU Fees – approximately €5,250 per annum) are also to be paid.
Interviews are expected to take place the week beginning the 7th July 2019
Start date: 1st September 2019 (or the earliest date thereafter).
For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie
For informal discussion about this fellowship please contact Prof. Kieran Walsh at kieran.walsh@nuigalway.ie
To Apply:
Candidates are requested to submit the following materials to icsg@nuigalway.ie:
- A cover letter, stating your research motivation and interests; including relevant background;
- A outline research proposal pertinent to the topic (Max 1000 words), including:
- Rationale, aim and objectives
- Methodology
- Preliminary work plan
- CV
- Two letters of recommendation
- Master degree documentation
- All other relevant documents confirming your qualifications and English skills
Applicants must include the Reference GenderNET PhD Application in the subject line of the email application.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5 pm (GMT), Friday, 21st June 2019
