Research Assistant – Behavioural Research Unit

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to work in its Behavioural Research Unit (BRU). This is a 3-year fixed term position.

The Institute

The ESRI, founded in 1960, is located in Dublin’s South Docklands area. Our mission is to produce high quality research, relevant to Ireland’s economic and social development, with the aim of contributing to knowledge and informing policymaking and public debate. We have over 100 staff including economists, sociologists, psychologists and other social scientists, in addition to support and technical staff.

The Behavioural Research Unit

The Behavioural Research Unit (BRU) is a team of behavioural economists and experimental psychologists that carries out behavioural research for government departments and agencies. The BRU deploys a broad range of research methods, but specialises in designing and conducting laboratory, online and field experiments to diagnose policy problems and test potential solutions. Much of the BRU’s work focuses on behaviours linked to environmental, health and financial outcomes. Candidates are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the BRU’s research output at www.esri.ie/bru .

Role Description

The job is to assist the team in conducting behavioural studies. RAs undertake much of the experimental software programming and data management within the BRU, but are expected to contribute to all aspects of the unit’s research, including experimental designs, data collection, analysis and writing, as well as interactions with policymakers. RAs have the opportunity to contribute to a team that is developing new approaches to the application of behavioural science to policy.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in economics, psychology, behavioural science or a related discipline, with an interest in decision-making and experimental methods. The successful candidate will have:

• A strong academic background
• Enthusiasm for applied research
• Experience of conducting behavioural experiments
• Experience with experimental and statistical software
• Excellent team-working skills
• Organisational skills, including good time management and ability to work to deadlines

RAs receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training. At the end of the contract, an RA could reasonably expect to have been involved in the preparation of at least six publications, to have presented at seminars and conferences, and to have acquired a range of skills relevant to PhD research or to research positions in the public and private sectors.

Research Assistants at the ESRI

Since the mid-1960s over 150 of the most talented graduates in economics and sociology in Ireland have participated in the ESRI’s Research Assistant programme. Many of these alumni have gone on to undertake PhDs at some of the world’s top universities, and have subsequently taken up academic posts, while others have risen to senior positions in major Irish and international institutions in the business, financial and public sectors.

The Research Assistantship programme is of three years’ duration, and it is aimed at candidates who have recently completed a relevant Master’s programme. Participants will receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training. The responsibilities of the Research Assistant include literature searches and reviews; preparing summaries of reports; collecting, collating and analysing data; model maintenance and development; writing up research results, and preparation and delivery of both internal and external presentations. On completion of the programme, Research Assistants will have acquired excellent skills which may be applied to PhD research or to research positions in the public and private sectors.

Further information for applicants to the ESRI’s Research Assistant programme is available here .

Location

ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Applicants should note that staff have the option of working remotely from their home in Ireland on a ‘blended’ basis with a minimum requirement of one day per week (or as business requires) based in the ESRI office. This arrangement is running on a pilot basis. Full details will be provided at interview.

Terms & Application Procedure

The role is full-time (35 hours per week - standard working hours are 09.30-17.30, Monday – Friday; flexible working hours are supported). Appointments will be on a three-year, fixed-term contract basis and starting salary will be €38,369, which is the first point of the ESRI Administrative Officer Standard salary scale.

The ESRI is currently conducting selection processes via videoconference (MS Teams or Zoom).

To apply for this position please follow the link below. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 21 June . All applications will be acknowledged. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.

The ESRI is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to accommodating the needs of people with disabilities to enable them to participate in the selection process. Please let us know if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to take into account when considering your application.