The European H2020 funded RE‐InVEST project is recruiting a short term Research Assistant/Post Doctoral Researcher to support the development of a tool kit and training programme for participants delivering a rights and capability led Participatory Research Project.
Time frame: July 1st to September 20th 2015.
To Apply: Please send CV to Mary P Murphy (Dept of Sociology) by 5pm Friday 6th March 2015.
***********
Desirable skills
- Masters or PhD level education and qualitative research experience
- Theoretical knowledge of human rights and capability approaches
- Commitment to working in a transformative paradigm
- Practical experience of Crossing of Knowledge/Participation and Rights (PAR) research approaches
- Previous design and delivery of delivery of PAR training programmes
- Previous experience of working with groups experiencing multiples disadvantage
- Ability to work in transnational context (12 participating countries (BE‐FR‐DE‐AT‐IE‐ NL‐CH‐LV‐PT‐RO‐IT UK (Eng+Scot);
Tasks
- Assist in designing tailored methodologies for the PAR/co‐construction of knowledge approach for mixed research teams (academics, NGO’s, unions and individuals from vulnerable groups).
- Assist in training and capacity building with mixed RE‐InVEST research teams.
- Assist preparing and delivering a specific three day residential training workshop in Maynooth in September 2015 (attended by at least the lead investigator and other members of the mixed research team from each of the 12 participating countries)
- Assist in drafting tool kit and drafting report
- Assist in enabling methodology be fine‐tuned in each location in collaboration with the participants; in identifying research sites and lead investigator in each country/region
Project
The RE‐InVEST project is funded under H2020 Euro 3 ‘European Societies after the Crisis’. It will mobilise 19 stakeholder organisations in twelve countries through a participative approach involving a crossing of knowledge between academics, civil society and people experiencing the reality of poverty. It aims to provide a stronger intellectual foundation to the European Union Social Investment Package, through (a) philosophical reframing in the human rights and capabilities tradition, (b) qualitative and quantitative empirical analysis of various building blocks, particularly labour market activation, social protection and regulating for minimum social service standards, (c) creative proposals relating to fiscal policy, funding and governance of social investment.
The project is led by principal investigator Ides Nicaise (KU Leuven). Maynooth University is a significant collaborator, Dr Mary P. Murphy in the Department of Sociology is a member of the management board of the project and leads two of the projects eight work packages.
Core to the project is a transformative paradigm ‐ which is consistent with our overall research objective in using rights‐ and capabilities‐based approaches to enhance the capacity of social investment to address crisis‐related societal challenges. The methodological approach suggests that participatory qualitative methods should/will be used to answer the core research questions, conduct our analysis and formulate potential solutions. The specific choice of methods will be determined by the specific sub questions but the principles will inform the design and delivery of the method. The qualitative research questions across WPs 3, 5 and 6 will be tackled chronologically using such methods.
The post will work directly to support WP2 (methodological support for the project). WP2 provides the methodological basis for the other WPs (mainly WP3‐5‐6, but also 4‐7‐8). 2.1: Assist in investing in ‘collective capabilities’ through participatory research.(Lead partner: NUIM; other: KU Leuven, SE, EAPN‐Portugal, Poverty Alliance.) WP 2 has been designed explicitly to develop participatory methods tailored to the needs of each national team involved in the research project. Moreover, this practical utilisation of a capability approach (see WP4) in research methodology is in itself a core outcome of the project. Consequently, we will also produce a methodological toolkit that can be used in similar research in other contexts (objective 1). Thirdly, the methodology is designed to ensure individual and collective capacity building through participatory approaches within the RE‐InVEST team.
The post is specific to one period of the work package (WP2 ‐ methodological support) e.g. the ‘kick off and the production of a toolkit and training workshop for all teams involved in data collection in Maynooth in September 2015; the rest WP2 stretches all along the research period in order to provide ad hoc advice.
For more see this document =
Research assistant
.