Senior Research Fellow – MARINERG-i

The successful applicant will be based in UCC’s Beaufort Building in the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) (https://www.ucc.ie/en/eri/) and the MaREI Centre of Energy, Climate and Marine. The MaREI Centre is the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) centre of excellence in Energy, Climate and Marine research in Ireland. The MaREI Centre includes 13 Universities, Third Level Institutes and Research Organisations, has 103 industrial partners and has research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the energy, climate and marine domains. Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry. MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as Marine Renewable Energy Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Circular Economy, Energy Policy & Modelling, and Renewable Energy Management.

Energy Group, in the MaREI research centre at University College Cork, is a focused group of researchers under the tutelage of Dr Jimmy Murphy, who researches ORE industry needs from wet storage solutions, LCOE modelling to technology development. It is a dynamic team that meets the challenges of the ORE sector by developing specialized tools creating data sets and assisting in technology development. Lir NOTF houses Ireland’s only infrastructure for small to medium scale laboratory testing of ocean and maritime systems, and has expert support personnel and a track record stretching back to 1977. We engage with industry and researchers to support the development of these emerging technologies. We are reputed for our contributions to wave, tidal and offshore wind energy development. We are also known for our work with floating structures, offshore structures, coastal engineering including breakwaters and harbours, hydrodynamics, scour, vessels and offshore logistics.

The highly prestigious and competitive Senior Research Fellow title would be awarded to individuals who have personally secured their own substantial, independent, external research funding, inclusive of salary, following an open, transparent and competitive selection process by the research funding body, or who have been appointed by the University following an open competition.

The Senior Research Fellow would be completely independent with access to their own research infrastructure. The Senior Research Fellow would have substantial experience in research and project management, a track record of high quality peer reviewed publications, and an excellent track record in obtaining research funding, including larger funds for research teams and infrastructure. Knowledge transfer and commercialisation experience should also be taken into consideration. The Senior Research Fellow may also have some teaching and mentoring duties.

Senior Research Fellows should be evaluated through a systematic and continuous professional development and appraisal system. The successful candidate will be expected to have:

• To have independently secured significant funding to conduct a research project as the Principal Investigator.
• To manage and oversee research projects and to take responsibility for their overall success.
• Will have full operational responsibility for a major project.
• To supervise post graduate research students as supervisor or co-supervisor, as appropriate.
• To take responsibility, either individually or in collaboration with others, for preparing bids for research funding.
• To independently and proactively identify research projects to be carried out individually or by a team.
• To act as the driver of research projects and outputs.
• May contribute to teaching with the agreement of the Head of School/College.
• Will raise significant R&D funds as a Principal Investigator and may be running an R&D activity.
• Demonstrable experience in managing large, multi-national and multi-disciplinary projects.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• The employee will be expected to carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

• A PhD qualification and extensive relevant research experience.
• Experienced driver of research projects and outputs.
• Track record in offshore renewable energy research.
• Experience in modelling of Levelised Cost of Energy and logistics of offshore operations.
• An international track record of high-quality prestigious publications.
• Should demonstrate scholarly excellence.
• Should have a track record of securing competitive funding as a Principal Investigator and independently winning substantial research funding on an ongoing basis and driving a research agenda.
• Demonstrable leadership skills.
• Teaching experience within an academic environment.
• Experience of research student supervision.
• Track record of making contributions to professional bodies, national/international academic community, the University (as appropriate).
• Significant experience in technology transfer (i.e. patents / licensing / spin offs) where relevant.

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to ei.ccu@tnemtiurcer, quoting the job-title.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Jimmy Murphy, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, ERI, Tel: + 353 (0) 21 4864300; Email: ei.ccu@yhprum.ymmij on or before the closing date.