Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time fixed term position as a postdoctoral researcher with the Health Promotion Research Centre at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

This position is funded by the Department of Health and is available from April 2015 to April 2017.

We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary team working on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Details of the HBSC Ireland study are available at www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc. HBSC Ireland is part of an international network of counties involved in the study of child and adolescent health behaviour, and detail on the international network can be found atwww.hbsc.org. The post would suit researchers with a good publication record who are seeking to establish themselves as senior independent researchers, with strong international links.

About us:
The Health Promotion Research Centre was established in 1990 with support from the Department of Health. The Centre produces high quality research, of national and international significance, that supports the development of best practice and policy in the promotion of health. As the only designated research centre in Ireland dedicated to Health Promotion, the Centre collaborates with regional, national and international agencies, including the EU and WHO, on the development and evaluation of health promotion initiatives. The Centre has an active multidisciplinary research programme in place with over 30 staff undertaking independent, commissioned and consultancy work. It has attracted circa €15 million of external research funding and was designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in 2009. Centre staff also contribute to educational programmes in Health Promotion and the supervision of Doctoral and Masters Research dissertations.

The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) is a cross-national research study conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe. The study aims to gain new insight into, and increase our understanding of young people's health and well-being, health behaviours and their social and developmental context. HBSC was initiated in 1982 by researchers from three countries and shortly afterwards the project was adopted by the World Health Organisation as a WHO collaborative study. There are now 43 participating countries and regions, involving more than 300,000 pupils. Surveys are conducted every four years, concurrently in each participating country, using a common and collaboratively developed research protocol. Findings from the study are used to inform and influence population health, health services and health education policy and practice at local, national and international levels, as well as to contribute to the academic and scientific literature. Ireland has been a member of the study network since 1994, when Dr. Saoirse Nic Gabhainn of the Centre for Health Promotion Studies (now the WHOCollaborating Centre for Health Promotion Research) in NUI Galway was elected by the international network to become Principal Investigator for Ireland. The study is school-based, with countries working to an internationally standardised protocol to collect internationally comparable data for 11-15 year olds. In Ireland, data have also been collected from children aged 9-11 and 15-17 years. The 2014 data collection is complete and data are now available for analysis.

Job Description:
The successful candidate will:
• Undertake and direct reviews of the academic and policy literature
• Liaise with advisory bodies, and key research stakeholders such as the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs
• Undertake and direct detailed and complex quantitative data analysis, and contribute to the design of such analysis and its interpretation.
• Make presentations at national and international conferences;
• Draft reports, scientific papers and contribute to other dissemination activities;
• Contribute to the development of other projects, and grant applications;
• Other project related duties as required.

The post offers significant opportunities for training and professional and personal development, including the opportunity to teach at post-graduate level, mentor junior researchers, develop technical research skills and international networking opportunities.

Qualifications:
A PhD is essential: this should be in health promotion, epidemiology, health service research, sociology, psychology, or a related discipline. The successful candidate must also have at least three years experience in health-related research. Well-developed skills and experience in quantitative research design and data analysis, and significant experience of software packages such as SPSS or STATA (or similar), are required for this post. Crucial for the successful candidate will be demonstrated ability to write for publication. The ideal candidate should have good communication, management and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Desirable experience
Understanding and appreciation of child and adolescent health issues in Ireland and across Europe, child participation in the research process, demonstrated research leadership, experience of writing grant proposals and research supervision.

Salary: €37,750 – 46,255 per annum (public sector pay policy rules pertaining to new entrants will apply)

Start date: Position is available from April 2015

Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn at Health Promotion Research Centre at NUIG (tel: 091493668; email: Saoirse.nicgabhainn@nuigalway.ie)

To Apply:
Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn (email: Saoirse.nicgabhainn@nuigalway.ie)

Please put reference number NUIG-030-15 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm on Wednesday 25th March 2015

National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.