Postgraduate Research Scholarships and Bursaries

Position Title

Project

We are seeking two highly motivated and independent doctoral researcher with a strong technical background to join the Living Lab team. The successful candidate will actively work on funded research projects such as XTREME Horizon Europe and other funded initiatives. 

The PhD research will focus on the intersection of social sciences and emerging technologies, specifically in assessing the design, development, and deployment of extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies. The researcher will critically examine the concepts, advantages, barriers, and opportunities of advanced technologies such as mixed reality, immersive experiences, AI systems, and related technologies. 

A key aspect of this role will be developing innovative Trustworthy AI frameworks and methods. The research will be informed by multi-disciplinary focus on trustworthiness by design, human-centricity, and risk governance approaches. The research will contribute to the creation of a risk and ethical framework aimed at helping AI system developers establish best practices in interprofessional and multi-professional collaboration. 

The ideal candidate must be a confident researcher and self-starter capable of conducting independent research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. A technical understanding of AI, XR, or related emerging technologies is highly desirable, along with the ability to engage with complex socio-technical challenges. 

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Min. 2.1 degree in technical or social science aspects of Data and AI innovation or related discipline.  Ideally with postgraduate qualification such as a Masters degree that includes the completion of a Masters Thesis. (Candidates near completion of a master's can apply) 

• The PhD researcher will be expected to possess a good level of technical knowledge and expertise in hardware, networking and some understanding of AI systems.  

• Good qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. 

• It would be ideal for the PhD research to have some knowledge of the field of Trustworthy-AI, technology ethics and governance.  

Fees, Stipend amounts

Closing Date

Contact

Additional Information

Please include the following information in your application 

• Proposal 

• CV 

• Min. 2 academic or professional references 

• Full Title of the Masters Thesis (where applicable) 

• Full list of prior research (where applicable) 

Today, 18m worldwide die every year from Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) which is one of the chronic diseases. When platelets aggregate at higher, than usual, rates cause the formation of thrombus. Thrombosis is the first step in the domino effect leading to the manifestation of CVD. 

On the other hand, neurological conditions are now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. The overall amount of disability, illness and premature death (known as disability-adjusted life years, DALYs) caused by neurological conditions has increased by 18% since 1990. 

With this project we wish to investigate the role of lipids against these diseases.

Project title : Food lipids against thrombosis, inflammation, chronic and neurodegenerative diseases

The project includes work on these fields:

1. Platelet aggregation techniques to identify lipids with anti-thrombotic bioactivities
2. Cell cultures of neurodegenerative diseases to understand the mechanism of action
3. Structural elucidation of most active lipids. 

The suitable candidate should meet the criteria below:

Essential criteria

1^st Class (or equivalent) BSc in Food Science or Chemistry or Biochemistry or related Sciences

Desirable criteria

Relevant research experience during the undergraduate studies on biochemistry or analytical chemistry or food components.

The project is funded by a research project in collaboration with Memorial University in Canada.

The PhD grant in place covers the full stipend (€22,000 per year) and annual EU fees (€6,400 approximately).

If you are applying from a non-EU country (annual fees €15,000 approximately), you should seek support for the extra amount (i.e. €15,000 - €6,400 = €8,600). 

Dr Ioannis Zabetakis

ioannis.zabetakis@ul.ie

Apart from supporting towards with stipend and fees, we support our students for conference participations and offer opportunities for gaining experience of national and overseas research methods and also networking.

The project will be supervised as:

Principal Supervisor : Dr Ioannis Zabetakis (Department of Chemical Sciences)

Secondary supervisor: Dr Andreas Grabrucker (Department of Biological Sciences)

For informal enquiries, please contact Ioannis at

ioannis.zabetakis@ul.ie

Application Process: 

To apply, please submit your CV (including information on your BSc degree and possible research experience), a cover letter (on your research interests and experience) and contact details of two referees to the leader of this project:

ioannis.zabetakis@ul.ie

Research profile of primary supervisor:

Loop | Ioannis Zabetakis

Context

Central to securing digitally engineered systems—such as those found in Offshore Renewable Energy—is ensuring the security, trust, privacy, and traceability of digital threads. Digital threads are a foundational technology in Digital Engineering, enabling informed decision-making by integrating actionable data from diverse sources across the system lifecycle.

At the core of a digital thread lies the concept of a single authoritative source of truth—a model and database that evolves alongside the system it represents. However, implementing secure digital threads poses significant challenges, particularly around access control, authentication, and the safe interconnection of people, processes, data, and capabilities within a digitally connected enterprise.

If the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of the digital thread is compromised, the reliability and authority of the information it carries is also undermined. This research will explore how to design and enforce security mechanisms that preserve trust in digital threads throughout the lifecycle of offshore renewable systems.

Research Objectives

1. To investigate the security, privacy, and trust requirements of digital threads in digitally engineered offshore renewable energy systems.

2. To design and evaluate secure architectures and access control mechanisms that ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of digital threads.

3. To develop mechanisms for ensuring the traceability and auditability of data across digital threads in compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory standards (e.g., NIS2, CRA).

4. To assess the scalability, performance, and resilience of secured digital thread implementations under realistic operational conditions

€25,000 per annum, duration of PhD is 4 years

EU Fees fully covered (International students may be subject to additional non-EU fees)

31 July 2025.

We reserve the right to not make an award.

Professor Donna O’Shea (Donna.C.OShea@ul.ie)

Please ensure you insert subject headers “Securing Digital Threads” in email

To apply

Please provide the following information emailing Donna.C.Oshea@ul.ie with the subject header: Securing Digital Threads.

• CV

• Motivation letter

• Three references

• Full academic and certified transcripts of undergraduate and postgraduate awards

• English language certification

Candidates will be shortlisted based on the above information. If you do not provide the information above then the applicant will be automatically eliminated from the process. 

Project

This fully funded 3-year PhD project aims to explore novel mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease progression, with a focus on how misfolded proteins interact with specific cell surface receptors. The project centers on Parkinson’s disease and involves mapping and targeting receptor-mediated transmission pathways – a poorly understood and underexplored area with therapeutic potential.

The successful candidate will develop and apply computational bioiphysical approaches, including molecular simulation, docking, and data integration, to identify and prioritise candidate therapeutic targets. These will be further assessed using in silico design strategies supported by machine learning and structural modelling tools. Where possible, the project will integrate emerging omics data, as well as patient-derived biophysical data, to refine the modelling framework.

The student will be based in the Department of Biological Sciences and embedded in the Bernal Institute, within a highly interdisciplinary environment that connects molecular biophysics, neurobiology, and computational drug discovery. Opportunities for collaboration and external engagement will be encouraged throughout the project.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Essential

• A 1st class honours or minimum 2.1 degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computational Biology, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related disciplines)
• Experience in computational modelling, molecular simulations, or bioinformatics workflows
• Ability to analyse complex biological data and interpret scientific results
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Motivation to work independently and contribute to a multidisciplinary research team

Desirable

• A Master’s degree in a related field
• Experience with molecular docking, MD simulations, or AI/ML tools
• Evidence of prior research (e.g., undergraduate thesis, MSc, or publication)
• Familiarity with omics data integration or high-throughput screening
• Proficiency in relevant programming or analysis tools (e.g., Python, R)
• Strong understanding of neurodegenerative disease biology or receptor-mediated mechanisms

Fees, Stipend amounts

• Tax-free stipend of €22,000 per annum for 3 years

   

• Full coverage of university fees (EU or non-EU)
• Travel and conference support
• Access to high-performance computing and professional development through Bernal Institute and SSPC

Closing Date

Contact

Additional Information

The student will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment and benefit from mentoring across the Bernal Institute’s Advanced Characterisation and AI-Driven Technologies pillar. The PI, Dr. Bhattacharya, also serves as Deputy Lead of this pillar, ensuring access to expert training, facilities, and cross-institutional collaborations.

The student will also engage with:

• High-performance computing resources and expertise in quantum chemistry and biophysics
• Experimental collaborators in the Department of Biological Sciences and European partner institutes
• Structured training through SSPC (SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals)
• Project-specific workshops and interdisciplinary seminars

Application Process:
Applications must be submitted via the following link: https://forms.gle/NL3rbGJEofPEc5J18 .

Upload a single PDF including:

• A brief cover letter outlining motivation and research interests
• CV (max 2 pages)
• Academic transcripts (undergraduate and/or MSc)
• Names and contact details of two academic referees
• If English is not your first language, or your highest degree was not taught in English, please include proof of language proficiency (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL)

Please do not email applications – only submissions via the form will be considered.

Project

Two PhD Scholarships in Cybersecurity (Privacy and Trust)

Higher Education Authority (HEA) North South Research Programme

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Fees, Stipend amounts

EU-Fees, travel and consumables covered 

€25,000 per annum

Closing Date

15 September 2025.

We reserve the right to not make an award.

Contact

Additional Information

🔹 How to Apply
 Complete the application form: Apply here - https://lnkd.in/ehjE3efK
Deadline: Monday, 15th September 2025
 
 This is a unique opportunity to advance research excellence while being part of a cross-border collaboration of leading universities.
 
🔹 Where can I find out more about the programme?
You can read more about the programme and project here:
📌 HEA announcement - https://lnkd.in/eppeJTy5
📌 UL News - https://lnkd.in/eU52xxAq

🔹 What is CyberUnite?
CyberUnite is a landmark research project funded under the HEA North-South Research Programme. The project is led by University of Limerick (Ireland) and Queens University Belfast (QUB) and partners Munster Technological University (MTU) and University College Cork (UCC). CyberUnite aims to secure cross-border critical infrastructure by advancing resilient, adaptive and trustworthy cybersecurity solutions. 
 
🔹 What positions are University of Limerick offering
University of Limerick (UL) are specifically recruiting for two PhD positions in privacy and trust of Cyber Physical Systems. Applicants should have a strong foundation in cybersecurity, AI, software (PhD1) and hardware (PhD2). Supervisors include Professor Donna O'Shea and Professor Tom Newe.

Project

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Essential Criteria

• A B Des/ BA/ BSc in Design (e.g. Product/ Industrial, Service, Digital Media, Service Design, Interaction, HCI) or related discipline (4 year honours degree or equivalent)

Or

• A BSc/ BA or equivalent degree in a health-related field and a Masters in a Design relevant field.
• Experience of or interest in design-led or co-creative approaches, particularly human-centred or participatory design.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment and with diverse community groups, including children and young people, families, service providers, or voluntary organisations.
• Commitment to working in a cross-border, collaborative, and inclusive research environment.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to engage sensitively with participants and produce clear written and visual outputs.
• Motivation to work on socially impactful research, with a commitment to improving the experiences of children and other marginalised groups.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage fieldwork, synthesise complex data, and work independently.

Desirable Criteria

If University of Limerick receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Experience working with health and/or wellbeing teams and/or in healthcare contexts.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams in a design studio/ research environment.
• Experience working with children and young people and/or other groups who face social marginalisation, exclusion, or visibility-related challenges.
• Experience with co-design or co-production, including running workshops, co-creative sessions, or community engagement activities.
• Experience analysing qualitative data using thematic analysis, grounded theory, or similar frameworks.
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary research environments, especially where design, social science, and policy intersect.
• Understanding of ethical considerations in participatory and community-based research with vulnerable groups.
• Skills in visualisation and representation (2D and 3D) techniques for designers.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Cross-border collaboration is an essential part of CO-CREATE, and as such, applicants to CO-CREATE PhD studentships must be able to travel regularly and freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland (UK). Applicants must specify whether they have a citizenship, residency or status which allows them to travel freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

Fees, Stipend amounts

This project is funded by the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme.

This PhD scholarship will provide:

• EU Tuition Fees
• A tax-free stipend of €25,000 per annum for up to 4 years.
• Up to €3,500 per annum for research expenses related to the studentship
• Up to €1,500 per annum for travel expenses related to the research being undertaken
• Up to €5,000 for mobility expenses. Mobilities are an optional part of all CO-CREATE PhD studentships, and provide funding for students to spend a portion of their studies (up to a maximum of 12 months) at a partner higher education institution within the CO-CREATE network. 

Closing Date

How to Apply

To apply, please submit:

• A 1,500 word comprehensive research proposal detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodologies
• A CV including qualification transcripts, or exam results to date (if degree is incomplete)
• A 1 page personal statement outlining your motivation, fit and capacity to undertake the PhD studentship
• A portfolio containing samples of design project work
• Contact details of two referees

All materials should be submitted to evelyn.brophy@ul.ie by 5pm on February 26, 2026 with the subject line “Co-Create PhD: Design-Led Approaches to Early Life Transitions”.

We reserve the right to not make an award.

Contact

All application materials submitted to evelyn.brophy@ul.ie

For informal enquiries or more information, please email: muireann.mcmahon@ul.ie

Additional Information

Project Summary:

University of Limerick invites applications for a funded 4-year PhD studentship as part of Co-Create Ireland: Art and Design Research Network for Inclusive Futures (CO-CREATE), a €4m cross border research project supported by the Higher Education Authority’s North South Research Programme. 

CO-CREATE will establish an all-island partnership which researches and advances the role citizen-centric art and design research can play in responding to the polycrisis, addressing intersecting cultural and environmental challenges and the increasing role fragmentation of social cohesion plays in exacerbating them. CO-CREATE aims to engage the creativity of diverse communities and foster forms of co-created research that will help to drive societal transformation and cultivate inclusivity in public services, climate action, health and heritage. The programme will offer opportunities for PhD students to develop new projects through engaged collaboration with an extensive cross-border network of researchers, cultural institutions, industry partners, community groups and public bodies. 

Recruited PhD students will be part of the all-island CO-CREATE Doctoral Network, linking researchers working across the National College of Art and Design, University of Ulster, University of Limerick and Atlantic Technological University. As part of the CO-CREATE Doctoral Network, students will benefit from:

• Opportunities to conduct collaborative research projects embedded with partner organisations
• Annual Summer School training intensives bringing doctoral students together with researchers, partners and experts from across and beyond the CO-CREATE network
• Annual CO-CREATE PhD research fora to develop and share research
• Access to CO-CREATE microcredentialised courses, offering flexible accredited learning in topics and methodologies linked to co-creation (Year 3 onwards)
• An optional funded mobility, offering the opportunity to spend a period of time outside of their home institution, conducting research within another CO-CREATE partner higher education institution 

PhD Description

Childhood and Young Personhood are times of growth and change marked by social relationships, physical development, identity, routines, roles, and levels of independence. Life transitions such as entering education, evolving relationships, familial changes, or navigating new social, digital, and physical environments can influence how children and young people are recognised, supported and included by the world around them. This PhD investigates how children and young people experience visibility, agency, and belonging during these formative transitions, and how design-led, co-creative methods can help strengthen the systems of support that shape these experiences.

For many children and young people, moments of change expose gaps in the systems meant to care for, nurture and support them, which heightens the risk of being overlooked and experiencing long-term adverse impacts. This research seeks to understand how children and young people experience visibility/invisibility and build agency: how it affects their sense of self, identity and participation, and how existing supports, formal or informal, either reinforce or alleviate these dynamics. Through qualitative and ethnographic research, the project will build a nuanced picture of what visibility means for children and young people's life transitions and why it matters for health, wellbeing, quality of life, and social connection.

The PhD will use participatory and co-design approaches to work with children and young people, families, caregivers, community organisations, and service providers. Together, these groups will identify opportunities to strengthen care and co-create interventions that enhance recognition, inclusion, resilience and agency during transitions. Care is broadly defined to include social, emotional, relational, and practical forms of support. Prototypes may take the form of redesigned services, communication tools, peer-support models, or new practices within community and care settings.

Embedded within the Transitions in Care work package, this research aims to contribute to a life-course understanding of care, recognising that transitions generate new needs and vulnerabilities but also possibilities for connection and growth. Alongside design interventions, the work package will deliver co-created design insights, adaptable frameworks, and evidence-based recommendations to strengthen systems of care and community support, ensuring children and young people are recognised, included, and empowered during key transitions. 

The post will be based at University of Limerick, and delivered in partnership with Spunout, National Youth Council of Ireland (NCYI) and Limerick City Area Partnership whose expertise in policy, community engagement, and programmes that support children and young peoples’ wellbeing and participation will provide unique opportunities to apply research in real-world contexts and influence practice and policy. 

The role will require regular cross-border travel to support stakeholder engagement, fieldwork, and knowledge exchange activities.  

Supervisory Team

Dr. Muireann McMahon (School of Architecture and Product Design, University of Limerick)

Dr. Louise Kiernan (School of Architecture and Product Design, University of Limerick)

Dr. Emma Creighton (Department of Design, NCAD)

Post Information:

If applicants have questions, they can contact the supervisory team, or relevant research office of the higher education institution they are making an application to. Applicants should not contact partner organisations directly about the studentships. 

Research proposals are welcome in any field aligned with the expertise and research interests of the Kemmy Business School Faculty. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed PhD research and future research aligns with UL’s Research Strategy 2022-2027 “Wisdom for Action” and the relevant “Sustainable Development Goals”. 

This Scholarship is open to new full-time PhD candidates who intend to register and enrol for the first time as a PhD candidate in UL during the Autumn semester of the 2026/27 academic year.

The successful applicant will normally have a Master’s Degree or a 1^st Class Honours Bachelor’s Degree in a discipline related to the research proposal.  Evidence of project management, scientific writing and an understanding of research methodologies would be an advantage. The candidate will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to work independently with the support of their research supervisors and to contribute to the research environment of the Graduate Centre of Business which is home to some 70 PhD candidates in the Kemmy Business School. 

Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

Please note we reserve the right not to make an award. 

PhD applications are evaluated under three criteria:

Quality of Proposal (50%): Clarity and coherence of the proposed research (critique of the relevant literature and alignment to research topic); Quality and appropriateness of research design and methodologies; Justification and contribution of study (appropriateness of research questions/objectives and proposed contribution to knowledge); Feasibility of the proposed research plan in terms of time frame, deliverables and contingency; Consideration of the relevant ethical issues and sex/gender dimension; Clarity of plans to acquire new knowledge and skills to achieve research aims (where appropriate); Clarity of dissemination and knowledge exchange plans in terms of proposed target publications; Clarity of potential impact of research beyond academia e.g. impact in terms of practice, policy etc.

Quality of Scholar (40%): Academic track record/performance i.e. academic results and undergraduate/postgraduate degree classification; Match between profile/relevance of qualifications and applicant’s proposed research project; Quality of references (two written references required, one of which must be an academic reference).

Quality of Supervisory Team (The scholarship requires a supervision team of two) (10%):  Alignment of the thesis topic with the specific expertise of the supervisory team; Research output of supervisory team e.g. Quality/Quantity of Publications, PhD completions, etc.; Evidence of joint supervision/supervisory team (complementarity of experience (i.e. more senior and early career supervisors working together) and skills.

Structure and Word Count of the Research Proposal

In submitting a PhD application to the KBS, candidates must provide the following: 

1. A covering letter which includes a personal statement to demonstrate how their previous studies/research and/or professional experience have prepared them for embarking on a PhD programme at the KBS. The personal statement should include the candidate’s reasons for undertaking doctoral research.

2. Two written references, at least one of which must be an academic reference. 

3. A research proposal must carefully follow the structure and sequence of the template provided below. It should fully address each of the headings listed below and adhere to the word count requirements in each case. The research proposal should be approximately 3,000 words in total. 

Template to be Followed for Research Proposals 

• Description of proposed research including critique of the relevant literature and alignment to research topic (1000 words) 

• Quality and appropriateness of research design and methodologies (500 words) 

• Justification and contribution of study (appropriateness of research questions/objectives and proposed contribution to knowledge) (500 words) 

• Feasibility of the proposed research plan in terms of time frame, deliverables and contingency (200 words) 

• Consideration of the relevant ethical issues (100 words) 

• Clarity of plans to acquire new knowledge and skills to achieve research aims (where appropriate) (200 words) 

• Clarity of dissemination and knowledge exchange plans in terms of proposed target publications (200 words) 

• Clarity of potential impact of research beyond academia e.g. impact in terms of practice, policy etc. (200 words) 

• Evidence of plans to apply for funding during PhD programme e.g. to the Irish Research Council or other funding bodies both nationally and internationally (100 words)

https://www.ul.ie/business/doctoral-programmes

Download the Guide to Preparing a Research Proposal and Evaluation Criteria (Here)

Download the Postgraduate Studies Application Form (Here) 

Prospective Supervisor (Here) 

Condition of the Scholarships

Successful PhD scholarship candidates will hold the scholarship for up to a maximum of three years.

Where a PhD scholarship candidate does not successfully complete the Annual Research Student Progression Process and if relevant, the Research Confirmation Process in the same academic year, the Scholarship will be forfeited.

Successful applicants will be expected to formally present their ongoing research during each year of their enrolment, paying specific attention to the sustainability and interdisciplinary nature of their research.

Completed applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted by close of business on Wednesday, 30 September to KBSResearch@ul.ie. 

Please note: we reserve the right not to make an award. 

Terms of the Award:

• To be eligible for this fee waiver the applicant must be willing to register as a postgraduate student in the School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences by September 2026.
• The fee waiver may be held for up to 4 years, subject to the student’s continued satisfactory academic progress (annual review based on receipt of PGR-9 (progression from) from Academic Registry).
• Selection panel decisions will be final and not open to review (see page 3 for guidance on scholarship evaluation criteria).
• Applicants will be given a maximum of 10 working days to decide whether to take up the award, once offered. If the award is not taken up, it will be re-allocated based on merit points to the next highest applicant. The panel will have the right to agree that low quality applications may be judged as non-fundable, and a scholarship will not be offered in that instance.
• The successful applicants will be notified by the end of the second week in August and must proceed to register for their degree programme.
• PhD students who intend to complete their PhD in a part-time capacity for the duration of their doctoral degree can apply, but funding is only allocated for a period of 4 years. To this end, funding for additional years (after the 4-year term) will need to be sought elsewhere. 
• Please note that this PhD fee waiver cannot be deferred, except on statutory grounds. 

Award:

1 PhD fee waiver (this fee waiver competition is open to students planning to register on the structured PhD route or the traditional PhD route). Successful non-EU applicants will receive EU fees only and will be liable for non-EU portion of fees.

Application Process:

Download and complete the application form.

Please submit an electronic copy of your application including all attachments to Mairead Gavin, Administrator, School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Limerick at mairead.gavin@ul.ie

Deadline for receipt of applications is 31st July at 12 noon.

• School of Allied Health Scholarship Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript showing degree/s and year/s of award 
• Reference letter x 1

Applicants will receive email confirmation that their application has been received.

Further information:

Dr Mellissa Prunty

mellissa.prunty@iul.ie

Position Title

Project

Clinical trials remain difficult for patients to navigate. Eligibility criteria are complex, information is fragmented, and misunderstandings can directly impact recruitment, retention, and patient outcomes. This PhD project, Agentic AI for Clinical Trial Support will focus on developing a trustworthy, multilingual large language model (LLM) that provides clear, plain-language explanations of clinical trial processes, including eligibility, risks, and expectations.

The objective is to improve how clinical trial information is communicated and understood in practice. A central aim is to investigate how agentic AI features such as structured reasoning, response provenance, and self-consistency can improve reliability, transparency, and user trust in healthcare settings. A particular focus will be on how these techniques perform in practice when applied to real-world clinical trial information, where ambiguity, complexity, and incomplete data are common. 

The project sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital health, and human-centred computing, contributing to emerging research in trustworthy AI and supporting alignment with European digital health priorities.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Minimum 2:1 degree in Computer Science or a related discipline with

• Demonstrable skills in large language models, natural language processing, or machine learning.
• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Awareness of trustworthy and ethical AI concepts such as explainability, bias and reliability. 
• Strong communication and analytical skills.
• Evidence of practical coding or applied project experience, such as a GitHub profile, project portfolio, dissertation or relevant software development work. 

Preference will be given to candidates that can demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Exposure to digital health, healthcare applications or clinical data.
• Experience with multilingual NLP
• Familiarity with agentic AI, retrieval-augmented generation, or related LLM-based systems.
• Experience working with complex, incomplete or real-world datasets.
• Interest in human-centred, safe and transparent AI systems.

Fees, Stipend amounts

The PhD grant in place covers the full stipend (€23,000 per year) and annual EU fees (€6,400 approximately).

For non-EU applicants, a non-EU fee waiver may also be available, but this cannot be guaranteed (a difference of approximately €6,000p.a.).

Closing Date

Contact

Additional Information

To apply please submit the following:

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A statement of purpose outlining your motivation, relevant experience and career goals (maximum 500 words). 
• One example of practical technical work relevant to deep learning natural language processing or large language models. This may be a GitHub repository, project portfolio entry, dissertation or thesis code or a short technical summary of a completed project. It should briefly describe your role, the methods and tools used, the dataset or task addressed, and the outcome of the work (maximum 500 words). 

To comply with University of Limerick requirements applicants invited for interview will be required to submit academic transcripts (in English) and proof of English language proficiency.

Project

The funded PhD position is offered as part of the larger research project Posthumanist sociolinguistics and journalistic practices: Reporting on climate change in Irish and German media. The project is funded by Research Ireland and the Irish Environmental Protection Agency.

Overview

In view of the increasing severity of weather events and unprecedented meteorological extremes, climate journalism aims to inform and warn audiences about climate change and promote ways of mitigating global warming. These efforts have so far, however, shown too little effect, and European traditional media outlets (i.e. newspapers and broadcasters) are frequently criticised for their human-centred coverage and representations of climate change. Despite this criticism, there is a significant lack of knowledge about the multimodal (i.e. linguistic and semiotic) reporting practices of journalists working in climate coverage.

Through a comparative study of Irish and German media based on a mixed-methods approach, the overall aim of the project is to examine how journalists reporting on climate issues try to engage with and inform about the topic of climate protection. In this context, it sheds light on issues that lead to misrepresentations of climate change in Irish and German media to foster a more meaningful engagement of journalists and the public with climate change.

As part of this larger project, the successful candidate will compile a corpus of newspaper articles related to climate change topics using one Irish and one German broadsheet paper. The compilation and analysis of the newspaper corpus will be the core area of research work of the PhD candidate, and the datasets generated will serve as the basis to develop the independent doctoral thesis. In the corpus of newspaper articles, the successful candidate will identify discursive patterns and possible trends in linguistic representations of climate change and anthropocentric news frames. They will also conduct an in-depth multimodal analysis of the evolution of human-centred discourses in both countries and compare the differences between economic and cultural contexts, and political agendas regarding climate change.

For the duration of the PhD Scholarship (2026-30), the successful candidate will be based in the Centre for Applied Language Studies at the School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics. They will be supervised by Dr Sarah Josefine Schaefer (PI of project) and Prof. Helen Kelly-Holmes, working primarily with Dr Schaefer across all phases of the project and also benefiting from participation in different activities (e.g. career development training at UL, conference participation, joint publications, workshop organisation).

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Essential

• Level B2 (CEFR) or equivalent in written and spoken English and German

• Honours undergraduate degree (Level 8 NFQ or equivalent) at 2.1 or higher (or equivalent), with a major/minor specialization in Linguistics, German, English, Journalism or related fields

  Desirable

• MA-level degree (Level 9 NFQ or equivalent) in Applied Linguistics/Sociolinguistics, Journalism, Sociology/Social Sciences or related fields

• Openness to interdisciplinary methods and some experience in qualitative and quantitative methods

• Some knowledge of/experience in discourse analysis and/or linguistic corpus analysis

Fees, Stipend amounts

Closing Date

Monday, 14^th September 2026

Contact

Additional Information

Please include the following in your application which should be sent to helen.kelly.holmes@ul.ie:

• a cover letter (max. 1000 words) explaining your suitability for undertaking doctoral research, why you are interested in this project and what you think you can bring to it

• a curriculum vitae with details of relevant educational history and/or employment experience and training received

• a writing sample (e.g. a chapter from your BA or MA thesis or an academic publication)

• contact details of two academic referees

• transcripts of university-level grades (including certified translations in English if obtained in a language other than English or German).

Interviews for the position will be held online in September 2026.

Project

This PhD Scholarship will explore the mechanism governing electron beam induced crystallisation in liquid phase transmission electron microscopy. Recent research in the Cookman group has demonstrated that pharmaceutical crystals can form under highly undersaturated conditions during electron beam irradiation. This project will seek to understand the fundamental mechanism responsible for this phenomenon with particular focus on the radiolysis-driven influence. Solvent radiolysis will be investigated through a combination of literature review from archived resources, computational simulations, experimental irradiation, and analytical validation.

The successful candidate will integrate radiolysis parameters from literature into existing computational models to assess the steady state concentration of radiolysis-derived products and the impact of varying electron beam parameters. Irradiation of the solvents coupled with complimentary post-analysis will experimentally validate and refine the simulations. In addition, solubility experiments will be conducted on a relevant compound capable of crystallising in LPTEM, to assess the influence radiolysis-derived products have on its solubility.

The PhD student will be based in the Department of Physics and embedded in the Bernal Institute where an interdisciplinary environment encourages scientific field cross-over, necessary for the success of this project.

Within this project there may be opportunities to visit collaborators for experiments, particularly for irradiation experiments. The PhD student will receive support for conference attendance (pending prior approval) where seeking funding from professional societies is encouraged, e.g. MSI, RSC, IoP, RMS, etc.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Essential Criteria:

1^st class or 2.1 degree in Chemistry/ Chemical Engineering/ Chemical Physics/ Physics/ Nanoscience or related discipline

Demonstrable research experience

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

Excellent written and verbal communication (English language proficiency required for non-EU applicants)

Ability to work in an interdisciplinary research team

Ability to work independently

Desirable Criteria:

Masters degree in a cognisant field

Experience with electron microscopy

Experience with analytical characterisation techniques, e.g., GC, HPLC, MS

Familiarity with liquid phase transmission electron microscopy

Proficiency in relevant programming tools, e.g., Python, MATLAB, COMSOL

Experience with computational modelling and simulations

Evidence of research outputs

Fees, Stipend amounts

Stipend: €25,000 per annum (covered for 3 years)

Fees: Full coverage of university fees for EU and non-EU

Closing Date

Contact

Queries can be directed to the PI for this project, Dr Jennifer Cookman by email to Jennifer.Cookman@ul.ie

Applications via email will not be considered, please use application form link: https://forms.gle/tmwGoYtKd4dp144H6

Additional Information

Application Process

All applications must be submitted via the following link: https://forms.gle/tmwGoYtKd4dp144H6

Please prepare a single pdf file to upload which includes the following information:

• Cover Letter (Max 1 page)
• CV (Max 2 pages)
• Name, email address and affiliation of 2 academic referees
• Academic transcripts
• English proficiency (include if English is not your primary language or your highest degree was not taught in English)

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview after the deadline.

Important: Do not email applications, only submissions through the online form will be considered

Position Title

 Kemmy Business School PhD Scholarship: 

“Social Acceptability of Agrivoltaics — Integrating Solar Generation with Animal Grazing Systems”

Project

Social Acceptability of Agrivoltaics — Integrating Solar Generation with Animal Grazing Systems (OviVoltaics Project) The University of Limerick is seeking a doctoral candidate to join OviVoltaics, a multidisciplinary project examining how utility‑scale solar generation can be integrated with agricultural production to create resilient and sustainable land‑use systems. The PhD will focus on the social dimension of this transition, assessing societal readiness for agrivoltaics and generating evidence to inform policy and planning. The candidate will work within a team spanning animal production, behaviour and health, biodiversity, water quality and carbon emissions, supervised by Professor John Garvey, Kemmy Business School.

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed PhD research aligns with UL’s Research Strategy 2022–2027 Wisdom for Action and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Fees, Stipend amounts

• Annual postgraduate research EU fees covered in full
• €25,000 tax‑free stipend per annum for three years
• Additional support available for travel and conferences
• Membership of an interdisciplinary research team and access to the BiOrbic national research centre

Closing Date

Contact

Additional Information

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted as a single document (CV, Cover Letter, Qualifications) with the subject line “Ovivoltaics PhD Application” to john.garvey@ul.ie.

PhD applications are evaluated under three criteria:

• Quality of Proposal (50%) — Clarity and coherence of the proposed research; critique of relevant literature; alignment to topic; appropriateness of research design; feasibility; ethical considerations; plans for skills acquisition; dissemination strategy; potential impact beyond academia.
• Quality of Scholar (40%) — Academic track record; relevance of qualifications; quality of references (two required, one academic).
• Quality of Supervisory Team (10%) — Alignment of topic with supervisory expertise; research output; evidence of joint supervision and complementary skills.

Structure and Word Count of the Research Proposal

Candidates must submit a research proposal (~3,000 words) following the structure below:

• Description of proposed research including critique of relevant literature and alignment to topic (1000 words)
• Quality and appropriateness of research design and methodologies (500 words)
• Justification and contribution of study (500 words)
• Feasibility of research plan (200 words)
• Ethical considerations (100 words)
• Plans to acquire new knowledge/skills (200 words)
• Dissemination and knowledge‑exchange plans (200 words)
• Potential impact beyond academia (200 words)
• Plans to apply for funding during the PhD (100 words)

Additional Information

• Doctoral Programmes – KBS
• Guide to Preparing a Research Proposal and Evaluation Criteria 
• Postgraduate Studies Application Form
• Prospective Supervisor List 

Condition of the Scholarships

Scholarship holders may hold the award for up to three years. Failure to complete Annual Progression or Research Confirmation requirements may result in forfeiture. Successful applicants will be expected to present their research annually, with emphasis on sustainability and interdisciplinary contribution.

Submission Process

Completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by close of business on Wednesday, 30 September 2026 to KBSResearch@ul.ie. We reserve the right not to make an award.