Sociology in the ERC Project LINLOSS – PhD Position 2

The Department of Sociology at Maynooth University seeks to appoint a PhD candidate (full-time appointment with a scholarship for four years). The position will be associated with the European Research Council funded project LINLOSS – Towards a Sociology of Loss: Disposals and dead-ends in Lineages of Social Innovation and Change. The work will be carried out under the supervision of Professor Jane Gray.

Objectives

The PhD candidate will be part of a team conducting research in Ireland and Poland. They will support the principal investigator, project partner and post-doctoral researchers in conducting the fieldwork in Poland.  They will develop their own PhD project and write a dissertation linked to the topic of LINLOSS. The PhD will be supervised by Professor Jane Gray and will be subject to Maynooth University and Department of Sociology regulations. 

Principal duties

The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (Professor Jane Gray), and in collaboration with a team of researchers in Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute. Their principal duties will include:

• Conducting fieldwork in Ireland under the direction of the Principal Investigator and in collaboration with the post-doctoral researcher
• Assisting with data transcription and anonymisation
• Jointly drafting articles and other outputs for scholarly publication
• Presenting at national and international conferences
• Helping with the organization and coordination of meetings and workshops related to the project
• Completing a PhD Dissertation as part of the broader LINLOSS project
• Complying with all Department and University policies

Essential requirements

The PhD candidate should have a strong interest and experience in biographical research on social change, using mixed qualitative methods. They should have:

• A master’s degree in sociology or a relevant cognate discipline
• Excellent knowledge of qualitative social science research methodology
• Familiarity with software for qualitative data analysis (e.g. MaxQDA)
• An ability to work independently, and to manage workloads and deadlines
• Excellent English language writing and speaking skills

Where to apply

Please send your application directly to Professor Jane Gray at jane.gray@mu.ie.

Your application should include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Certified copies of official academic transcripts (bachelor’s and master’s degrees)
• A letter of motivation that should include: (1) a brief statement of why you wish to complete a PhD linked to the LINLOSS project; and (2) a brief account of how your track record meets the requirements of the role.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 10th August 2024.

Selection and appointment:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend for interview (online)
• Candidates invited for interview will be required to make a short presentation
• The appointment is expected to be effective from 1^st September 2024