Several of the schemes below were previously run by the Irish Research Council or by Science Foundation Ireland. Those two bodies merged in 2024 to form Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, which now administers all of them.

PhD Opportunities

• Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship

  The main way PhD students join the group is via the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, run by Research Ireland. These fund PhD positions for up to 4 years. This includes a stipend, funds for travel and computer equipment and also covers student fees. The deadline for applying is typically around the end of October.

Postdoctoral Opportunities

The group has had a lot of success with the below funding opportunities:

• Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship

  
  If you completed your PhD in the last 5 years you can apply for a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship, also run by Research Ireland. Fellowships last either one or two years and include funds for research expenses. The deadline for this application is typically around the end of October.

• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship

  
  Another excellent source of postdoc funding is via the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships. There are two flavours: European and Global. The European Fellowships last up to 2 years at a European institution. The Global Fellowship adds a mandatory 12-month return phase in Europe after up to 2 years spent outside it. Both fellowships come with generous travel and equipment funds. The deadline for this application is typically in September.

Senior Research Fellow Opportunities

• Royal Society - Research Ireland University Research Fellowships

  If you are between 3-8 years post-PhD you can apply for a Royal Society – Research Ireland University Research Fellowship. This is a prestigious 8 year fellowship with scope for establishing your own group through supervision of PhD students and Postdocs. Awards held in Ireland are funded by Research Ireland. The deadline for this application is typically in September.

• Research Ireland Pathway Fellowships

  Similar to the Royal Society - Research Ireland fellowships, the Research Ireland Pathway Programme offers 4 years of funding with a view to preparing for a role as a member of faculty. Applications are made through the University, which nominates candidates in advance of the call deadline, so contact us early. The University nomination stage is typically in February, with the full proposal deadline in May.

General Information

General information about postgraduate study and student life at UCD can be found on the UCD Graduate Studies page. Information regarding support and training opportunities offered to UCD postdoctoral researchers can be found on the Research Careers page.

Reasons to work with us

As a Group, we are committed to supporting postdoctoral researchers and fellows in advancing their careers through mentoring, training and help in applying for grants and research positions.

Our working philosophy

We aim to make the Group and School a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone. As well as helping you realise your potential and advance your career, we recognise and value the need to maintain a healthy work/life balance.