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

Applications are invited from excellent candidates in relation to the PhD projects described below. It is recommended that potential applicants contact the supervisors informally prior to applying. Interested candidates may apply for PhD study throughout the year. However, fully funded PhD studentships are available for PhD study starting September 2025.

Details of the PhD projects are available from the link below 

 PhD Studentship Applications Now Open! | University of Limerick

The closing date for applications to the studentship competition is July 4th at 12pm (Irish Standard Time). 

We reserve the right to not make an award.

Applications can be made by submitting (1) a current two-page academic CV and (2) an expression of interest document to psychology@ul.ie with the subject ‘PhD Studentship Application’. 

The expression of interest document should be submitted in Word (.doc or .docx) format and should be no more than two pages. 

The applicant should describe their own suitability for one of the advertised projects (50% weighted) and how they propose to develop the project (50% weighted). Queries about the process can be made to Dr Jenny Roth Jenny.Roth@ul.ie

Project

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

Faculty

Entry Requirements

Fees, Stipend amounts

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

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

Closing Date

31^st July 2025.

We reserve the right to not make an award.

Contact

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

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

Additional Information

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:

There will be an online information session for interested applicants for CO-CREATE PhDs on Monday, 12 January 2026. You can register for the session at the following link. This session will provide interested applicants with general information about the CO-CREATE project and the CO-CREATE Doctoral Network. It will also feature a Q&A portion where applicants can raise questions about the advertised PhD projects. 

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. 

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.