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Research Assistant - MARIO Study
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Ref. no. NUIG 140-15
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part time, fixed term contract
position as a Research Assistant in the School of Nursing and Midwifery on an EU Horizon 2020
funded project entitled ‘Managing active and healthy aging with use of caring service robots’
known as MARIO. The position is half-time (50%) and is available immediately for an initial 3
month contract commencing in January 2016 with possibility of extension for a further 6 months
subject to funding. The successful candidate will report to the study principal investigator (Prof.
Dympna Casey, School of Nursing and Midwifery) and will work under the direct supervision of
the Project Manager (Aileen Connolly).
MARIO addresses the difficult challenges of loneliness, isolation and dementia in older persons
through innovative and multi-faceted inventions delivered by service robots. The effects of these
conditions are severe and life-limiting. They burden individuals and societal support systems.
Human intervention is costly but the severity can be prevented and/or mitigated by simple
changes in self-perception and brain stimulation mediated by robots. The proposal is
coordinated by the School of Nursing & Midwifery and involves 10 research partners from four
other countries; Italy, UK, Greece and Germany. Pilot activities and interaction with caregivers,
older persons and stakeholders are key elements of the project from beginning to finish which
provide a user led design ethos in developing the service robotic. Advances will be made in the
use of semantic data analytics, personal interaction, and unique applications tailored to better
connect older persons to their care providers, community, own social circle and also to their
personal interests. The project seeks to attain EU scientific and market leadership in service
robots with a user driven solution for the major societal challenge of loneliness and isolation in
older people, including people with dementia. The project will run over three years and
commenced in February 2015.
Job description
The postholder will be required to take an active role in all aspects of the research. The
successful applicant will need excellent communication, research and people skills.
Main duties and responsibilities:
 Conduct qualitative interviewing including focus groups, analyse the data and write up
the findings.
 Perform rigorous qualitative analysis of the collected data using the qualitative analysis
software package NVivo or equilvant computer assisted software system.
 Set up and conduct surveys, online and paper based.
 Assist in the recruitment of research participants.
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Send follow up reminders, analysis the quantitative data, write up findings and perform
rigorous analysis of the collected data using SPSS.
Assist in the drafting of reports as required.
Ensure timely completion of all research activities, and give feedback on research
progress to the principal investigator, project manager and relevant project personnel.
Report the data analysis findings to the study team to inform the MARIO project.
Input to the project monitoring reports with assistance from the principal investigator and
the project manager.
Search, review, and summarize relevant literature for qualitative and quantitative
publications and reports.
Assist in the writing up of qualitative and quantitative papers for publication in peerreviewed journals.
Assist in preparing and delivering presentations of the study findings to academic, health
professional and public audiences.
Liaise with the principal investigator, project manager and project stakeholders on an
ongoing basis as required
Participate in research team meetings
Set up and co-ordinate research meetings both face to face and virtual meetings
Record minutes of meetings as required
Assist with other reasonable, research-related tasks as requested by the principal
investigator and project manager, or as agreed with other members of the research
team.
Requirements
 A Degree in IT or Health related field.
 Experience of research and conducting research projects
 Evidence of conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, including
producing literature reviews, conducting interviews, performing data analysis, and
writing-up to publication standard
 Experience of using NVivo or an equivalent computer-based qualitative analysis
approach
 Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
 Evidence of an ability to self-motivate, work independently, and effectively self-manage
 A proven track record of delivering programmes of work on time
 A history of showing flexibility and initiative in completing projects
 Excellent critical thinking and analysis skills
 Excellent organisational and clerical skills, with a strong attention to detail and quality
 Excellent interpersonal skills, including experience of effective team work and
collaboration
 Capable of working independently and autonomously;
 Highly motivated and passionate about developing high quality research;
 Self-motivated with strong attention to detail and quality
 High Level of IT skills including Microsoft Excel and SpSS
 Clearance by Gárda vetting bureau
Desirable;
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Experience of contributing and participating on research funded projects e.g. EU level
project, HRB projects
Informal
enquiries
may
be
[email protected]
made
to
project
manager
Aileen
Connolly
Salary: Fixed salary at €27,679 per annum, pro-rata for this part-time post.
Start date 4th January 2016
NB: Work permit restrictions apply to this category of post
Gárda clearance is a requirement for this post.
Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI
Galway
Further information about the School of Nursing and Midwifery is available at
http://www.nuigalway.ie/nursingmidwifery/
TO APPLY:
Candidates are requested to submit a covering letter, CV and the names and addresses of three
and not more than five referees via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to: Ms. Aileen Connolly aileen.a.
[email protected] Please put Ref. no. NUIG 140-15 in the subject line of email application
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Wednesday 2nd December 2015.
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.