Research Assistant

Department: General Practice, RCSI Reporting to: Professor Patrick Redmond Location: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin Contract/Duration: Full-time, Specified purpose contract for up to 9 months Remuneration: Point 1 on the IUA Research Assistant scale Closing Date: 14th May 2025 RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health”. We seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2025-2029” at RCSI. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent. Innovating for a Healthier Future 2023-2027 is RCSIs new five-year strategic plan. Through it, RCSI will enhance human health by meeting the health workforce needs of society, creating the insights and inventions that drive health improvements, and working in partnership with patients and the public in support of better health and well-being for all. The strategy unites the RCSI community in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals - with a particular focus on Goal 3, which targets good health and well-being. For each of the last six years, RCSI has been positioned in the Top 300 of universities worldwide in the Times Higher World University Rankings. We are proud that RCSI ranks fifth in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG #SDG Impact Rankings 2024. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. Our values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship and Innovation continue to unite and direct our purpose. About PRiCAN PRiCAN (Primary Care Research into Cancer) is a multidisciplinary research team aimed at enhancing early cancer detection, diagnosis, and outcomes in primary care settings. Beyond the immediate project, you will be part of a broader program of research in primary care and cancer, with opportunities to contribute to trials, observational studies, and multidisciplinary initiatives. PRiCAN integrates a wide array of research activities, including:

• Developing and testing digital health interventions to improve patient engagement and access to care.
• Exploring the integration of non-invasive biomarkers with the aim of conducting clinical trials to evaluate innovative screening strategies.
• Leveraging data science to assess the utility of general practice data for research and clinical care.
• Engaging with our public and patient involvement (PPI) group to ensure research is grounded in patient needs and experiences.

About the Project This position is funded under the Joint Action on Networks of Expertise on Cancer (JANE-2), a European initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between institutions to improve cancer care. Specifically, this role supports Work Package 5: Network of Expertise for Complex and Poor Prognosis Cancer (e.g., lung, pancreatic), in alignment with PRiCANs mission to advance early cancer detection and optimise diagnostic pathways for cancers with poor prognoses. The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary research team, contributing to projects that enhance cancer screening strategies, diagnostic innovation, and service delivery. This includes assisting with systematic reviews, data collection, AI-driven diagnostics, and stakeholder engagement. Given the European scope of JANE-2, this position also involves liaising with international collaborators and contributing research efforts across top cancer centers in Europe. This role offers a unique opportunity to:

• Work with leading European cancer research networks, contributing to large-scale policy and research initiatives.
• Be supported in career development opportunities, including conference presentations, research publications, and collaborations with top cancer centers in Europe.
• Contribute to PRiCANs diverse research portfolio while developing skills in research project management, stakeholder engagement, and policy translation.

Opportunities for Career Development We are committed to supporting the long-term career progression of our team. Candidates will be encouraged and guided to apply for PhD opportunities to extend their research or the opportunity to progress their career with healthcare providers and industry partners. Summary of Post The Research Assistant will be responsible for evidence synthesis, research coordination, and stakeholder engagement for an EU-wide project on complex and poor prognosis cancers. They will contribute to focused efforts with European partners to ensure research is translated into health policy. They will also assist in overseeing other primary care research projects and admin tasks related to lung cancer screening interventions. Specifically, the duties of the post are:

• Conduct systematic literature reviews, data extraction, and analysis to support cancer screening and diagnostic pathway research.
• Assist in the development and testing of diagnostic tools and recruitment strategies for cancer screening.
• Support on-site project activities including meetings, workshops, and international collaborations ensuring smooth project execution.
• Serve as a liaison between the PRiCAN project manager and on-site tasks, providing regular updates to ensure seamless project continuity.
• Prepare draft reports, research papers, presentations, and dissemination materials for publication in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
• Work closely with epidemiologists, data scientists, policymakers, and clinical researchers to ensure timely delivery of project milestones.

Qualifications - (Essential):

• A bachelors degree in a relevant field (e.g., Health Informatics, Epidemiology, Data Science, Biostatistics, Public Health, or Computer Science)
• Proven experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong project coordination skills, including experience with communication platforms (e.g., Slack, MS Teams) for managing timelines and deliverables.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills with an eye for detail.
• An ability to work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications - (Desirable):

• Experience working in European or international cancer research collaborations.
• Experience with lung cancer research or knowledge of the Irish healthcare system.
• Technical expertise in statistics, coding (e.g., Python, R) or data architecture.
• Knowledge Experience with AI, biomarkers, or digital health solutions.

We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application — wed love to hear from you. Application Process Please apply online through the RCSI careers portal on the closing date with your CV and cover letter. Informal Enquiries can be directed to predmond@rcsi.ie. Please note we do not accept CVs directly. Click here to read our Recruitment and Selection Policy for Researcher. Employee benefits At RCSI, we help care for our people so they can focus on our mission to educate, nurture, and discover for the benefit of human health. RCSI make sure you have the resources you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits in areas including time away, finance, community, health, and well-being and insuring your financial future. In addition to our city centre campus and world-class facilities, there are a wide range of excellent benefits available to our employees, including:

• Onsite gym €10 per month
• Flexible working arrangements
• Automatic enrolment to a pension scheme for all employees (Willis Towers Watson, pension documents outlined below)
• RCSI Investment Guide
• Pension Scheme Guide
• Benefits Schedule
• Life assurance/death in service
• Long term illness/disability income replacement
• Free advice on health/motor and home insurance
• Discounted services, including GP
• Support for parents and carers
• Taxsaver commuter tickets
• BiketoWork
• Free eye test at the National Optometry centre
• €12/day for parking for all RSCI staff in the St. Stephens green/RCSI car park
• RCSIs Learning and Development team facilitate and provide training opportunities for all staff
• Sports and social club Opportunities to volunteer in the community
• 26.5 days leave - 20 days annual leave plus 6.5 days Privilege days - In addition to your annual leave entitlements and public holidays, RCSI also grants privilege days to our employees (paid time off during Easter and Christmas periods). We also offer a number of leave options to support the working lives of our employees.
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid Paternity leave
• Parental leave

Note: This job description may be subject to change to reflect the evolving requirements of the Department and RCSI. Similar vacancies that arise in the next 6 months may be filled from the pool of applicants that apply for this position. RCSI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or race. RCSI is committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across everything we do. This ensures we can all work and learn in an environment defined by dignity and respect. Eligibility to work in Ireland is a requirement of this role, Proof of eligibility documentation will be required at a later date. Under limited and specific circumstances (research/ specialist roles) RCSI may be in a position to seek a hosting agreement and/or work permits. Employees are required to undertake 6 months service in their current role before applying for other internal opportunities, unless agreed in advance by the SMT representative

Information :

• Company : RCSI
• Position : Research Assistant
• Location : Dublin, County Dublin
• Country : IE