Title: Research Assistant
Department: Centre for Positive Health Sciences
Tenure: Full time for 24 months
Location: 121 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2
Reporting to: Professor Jolanta Burke, CPsychol
RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health”. We seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2025-2029” at RCSI. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent.
Innovating for a Healthier Future 2023-2027 is RCSI’s new five-year strategic plan. Through it, RCSI will enhance human health by meeting the health workforce needs of society, creating the insights and inventions that drive health improvements, and working in partnership with patients and the public in support of better health and well-being for all. The strategy unites the RCSI community in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals – with a particular focus on Goal 3, which targets good health and well-being.
For each of the last six years, RCSI has been positioned in the Top 300 of universities worldwide in the Times Higher World University Rankings. We are proud that RCSI ranks fifth in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG #SDG Impact Rankings 2024. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. In 2024, RCSI was delighted to be named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in Ireland.
At RCSI, our core values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship, and Innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every colleague is valued and empowered to thrive. Our dedication to these values ensures that we foster a culture of mutual respect, open collaboration, continuous learning, and innovative thinking. Join us at RCSI, where your contributions will be recognised, and you will be part of a dynamic team making a real impact on global health.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

o A Master’s degree in Psychology, ideally with a focus on wellbeing, health psychology, positive health or positive psychology.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

o Some experience and/or strong interest in wellbeing and positive psychology research.
o Familiarity with research methods in psychology and health sciences, including experience with either qualitative or quantitative methodologies.
o Knowledge of statistical analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R) and/or qualitative software (e.g., NVivo, MAXQDA) is desirable.
o Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively under tight deadlines.
o Capacity for independent decision-making, proactive problem-solving, and taking initiative.
o Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in English.
o Proficiency in digital tools and platforms for communication, collaboration, and presentation (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom).
o Attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality work.
o A collaborative, flexible, and positive approach to working as part of a team in a dynamic research environment.

o Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary research team, external research partners, and stakeholders across multiple projects.
o Liaise professionally and sensitively with research participants, ensuring ethical and respectful engagement.
o Provide comprehensive administrative support for research projects, including scheduling, documentation, record-keeping, and correspondence.
o Organise, attend, and actively contribute to project meetings, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, and tracking action items.
o Support grant management and reporting, including drafting progress reports, collating supporting materials, and ensuring timely submission to funding bodies.
o Assist researchers with data collection and analysis activities, including transcription, coding, and organising research materials.
o Contribute to literature reviews, synthesis of evidence, data interpretation, and preparation of research publications and reports.
o Help with the preparation of conference presentations, academic posters, and public dissemination materials.
o Coordinate participant recruitment, consent, and data management procedures in line with research ethics guidelines.
o Support the organisation and delivery of workshops, seminars, and community engagement events related to project outcomes.
o Maintain accurate, confidential records and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
o Contribute to the wider work of the Centre, including events, community engagement activities, and strategic initiatives as required.
o Perform any other duties necessary for the successful implementation and delivery of research activities.