Postgraduate Research Scholarships and Bursaries

Position Title

PhD Programme

Project

Building 3-dimensional co-culture models of breast cancer to elucidate and overcome the mechanisms of endocrine therapy resistance.

Research question: Using a combination of complex in vitro models and advanced single-cell sequencing analytics, can we elucidate the factors that contribute to endocrine therapy resistance in patients with hormonal positive breast cancer, and can we use this knowledge to develop novel therapeutic strategies capable of overcoming resistance?

• Selection of proposed techniques:
• Advanced cell culture including 3-dimensional and co-culture models.
• High-throughput confocal imaging.
• Single-cell RNA sequencing sample preparation.
• Bioinformatical data analytics.

Faculty

EHS- Health Research Institute

Entry Requirements

. Essential candidate attributes:

•Graduated with (or about to receive) a high 2:1 or 1:1 BSc. (Hons) degree in a relevant field (e.g., Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, or Biochemistry)

•Experience in wet-lab experimentation (Final year project or similar)

•Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

•Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.

•Enthusiastic about cancer research and advancing therapies for patients.

•Must be available for a September 2024 start date

Desirable candidate attributes:

•Experience in cell culture techniques and molecular biology.

•Experience in using R or Python and analysis of single cell sequencing data

Fees, Stipend amounts

The project is funded by the Health Research Institute for a student stipend of €22,000 plus €6,000 towards student fees per annum for a duration of 4 years. This will cover EU fees for PhD candidates, full details: Student Fees 24/25

Closing Date

7th June, 2024.

Contact

Amira.Mahdi@ul.ie

Additional Information

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV including exam results to date and technical experience, a cover letter outlining your research interests and experience, and contact details of two referees to: amira.mahdi@ul.ie by 7th June, 2024.
For informal enquires or more information, please email amira.mahdi@ul.ie

The project will be co-supervised by Prof Kieran McGourty (Department of Chemical Sciences, UL).

Development of a Core Outcome Set for cognition post-stroke.

Research Question 

What core outcomes do patient, policy, healthcare and research stakeholders agree should be included in research studies wherein cognitive function is measured among people with stroke? 

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Cognitive impairment relates to challenges with memory, attention, language and perception and up to 38% of people demonstrate cognitive impairment one-year post-stroke. It is associated with poorer quality of life, reduced chance of survival, increased risk of institutionalisation, higher caregiver burden and increased costs. International consensus has highlighted it as an area of unmet need post-stroke.

However, there is a lack of agreement on ‘what to measure’ in studies addressing cognitive impairment post-stroke. This outcome heterogeneity has implications for reviewing research evidence and for generating policy implications. The development of a core outcome set (COS) is an established methodology to address issues with outcome heterogeneity in research. 

Throughout this PhD the scholar and supervisors will work with people with stroke, their families, healthcare staff, researchers and other stakeholders to reach agreement on what outcomes should be measured in all studies measuring cognition after stroke.

A 2.1 grade (or equivalent) in a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

• Contact details of two referees who will be contacted soon after the call deadline.

• The applications will be evaluated through a two-stage selection process:

An interview with the supervisory team in early August 2024.

Position Title

PhD Scholar in Psychological Science

Project

SHIELD: Strategic Health Initiatives for Effective Disease Prevention.

This PhD scholar position is associated with the Horizon Europe funded project, SHIELD: Strategic Health Initiatives for Effective Disease Prevention. This pan-European project aims to decrease premature mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) by providing personalized preventive care, stratification, and early interventions aimed at mitigating the risk and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes.

SHIELD will leverage the fact that early risk identification or pre-diagnosis is sometimes referred to as a “teachable moment”, where a patient is likely to be open to behaviour changes. It will facilitate collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals for personalized digital care plans, embracing shared decision-making and increasing felt responsibility of the patient. These care plans, accessible via mobile or tablet devices, will vary from generalized to closely monitored, personalized interventions according to the risk level of patients based on a hierarchical transitional model. The provision of the care plan within SHIELD will also consider other factors such as gender, age, context, environment, with a special focus on psychological and psychosocial aspects.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Criteria:

• Ideally, the candidate will hold a first class honours award from a MSc or MA (level 9 NFQ) in Psychology or a related discipline (although other award levels will be considered). Those who hold a first class honours bachelor’s degree (level 8 NFQ) will be considered.
• Excellent work and project management skills.
• Demonstrated experience of quantitative research and data analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Task-related Competencies

• Design and prepare research materials and conduct analyses of the research findings.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently.
• Plan and manage day-to-day activity within the framework of the agreed project. For example, create and maintain a work plan, meet agreed schedules, milestones, deliverables and/or research outputs.
• Keep appropriate records as directed and write reports in line with funder/university policy.
• Contribute to the development and support of additional project proposals if necessary.

Desirable Criteria:

• Evidence of publications commensurate with career stage.
• Experience in behaviour change techniques, intervention design, implementation and evaluation, health risk profiling, motivation science, and/or self-regulation.
• Experience in data analytic techniques.
• Ability to work on own initiative within a team environment.

Fees, Stipend amounts

Closing Date

Contact

Additional Information

OVERALL PURPOSE OF PhD PROJECT

Professor Deirdre O’Shea (Kemmy Business School) and Professor Stephen Gallagher (Education and Health Sciences Faculty) will lead the components associated with psychological and psychosocial risk identification and the development of the behavioural interventions, in particular, focusing on behaviour change techniques, intervention design, implementation and evaluation, and experience in health risk profiling, motivation science, and self-regulation. 

DESCRIPTION:

The PhD scholar in Psychological Science will contribute to components of the SHIELD project associated with psychological and psychosocial risk identification and the development of behavioural interventions to reduce risk associated with these NCDs. They will be responsible for the day-to-day management, design, delivery/dissemination and data management of several studies.

Although the specific details of the PhD studies will be developed in conjunction with the PhD scholar, it is envisaged that the following studies will form part of the PhD studies:

1. State of the art review in the determination of risk scores for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with a specific focus on psychosocial risks that may currently be omitted
2. A Delphi study to assess clinician and patient perspectives to assess who may be most likely to use the SHIELD platform in order to generate insights into potential opportunities and barriers to use,
3. Meta-analysis of health behaviour interventions effectiveness for NCDs with a view to integrating deeper insights from self-regulation and motivation science that can build on the COM-B model of behaviour change

Application procedure and deadline for applications:

Please e-mail your application including the components outlined below to: deirdre.oshea@ul.ie by 16:00 GMT on 13 January 2025.

Please submit the following with your application:

• Letter of Motivation outlining your fit commensurate with career stage (in terms of competencies, education, research experience) with the project, motivation for doing a PhD and any other information you deem relevant.
• Curriculum Vitae outlining your educational attainments, competencies that fit with the project, research experience including any conference presentations, publications, or awards.
• Full title of Bachelors and/or masters research dissertation and details of any other research experience
• Evidence of educational attainments (e.g., transcripts)

Selection process:

Candidate’s applications will be reviewed and subsequently, those who are shortlisted will be invited for interview.  We aim to provide at least one week’s notice to all candidates.  The interview process may take the format of a standard interview and may also include a presentation – if so, you will be provided with details of this in your invitation to interview letter. Candidates may interview in person or also via video link – Microsoft Teams.

Projects

Applications are invited from excellent candidates in relation to two PhD projects (2025-29) described within Teachers’ Professional Journeys (TPJ) Longitudinal Study: The First Decade (2024-30)  

It is recommended that potential applicants contact the principal investigator/supervisor informally prior to applying. Both projects commence in September 2025.

Selection for studentships will be competitive and will take place in March 2025. Shortlisted candidates should be available for an online interview.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Funding/Stipend

Closing Date

Deadline extended until 10 March 2025 12 noon (Irish Standard Time).

We reserve the right not to make an award.

Contact and How to Apply

To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae, a targeted cover letter (expressing your suitability for the position vis-à-vis the essential criteria and why you wish to pursue a PhD in the area of teachers’ professional journeys), one or more samples of written work (e.g. thesis, paper, essay) and two letters of reference electronically to: tpjstudy@ul.ie

Candidates should indicate whether they wish to apply for project 1 and/or project 2.