Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1

University College Dublin; Dublin; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland invites applications for two Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1 positions (30 months). The roles focus on the SYN-Bridge project, leading development and testing of damage-detection algorithms for bridge health assessment. Start dates are 1 Feb 2027 or 1 May 2027, with a closing date of 09 November 2026.

Based in the UCD School of Civil Engineering. The successful candidates will contribute to advanced numerical modelling, data analysis, and

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement numerical models and algorithms for assessing bridge condition from vehicle and bridge response, including damage detection and digital twin modelling.
• Validate these methods against simulated, laboratory and field data and collaborate with project partners.
• Participate in regular online project meetings and help organise consortium meetings hosted by UCD.
• Travel to consortium meetings in Northern Ireland and the United States, and to conferences as required.
• Contribute to progress reports for funders and manage data, code and documentation per the project data-management plan.
• Conduct a specified programme of research and scholarship under supervision by the Principal Investigator.
• Engage in training and professional development opportunities as required by the PI, School/Institute, or University.
• Disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications under supervision and with the research team.
• Engage in wider research and scholarly activities of the group, school and institute.
• Mentor and assist research graduate students within the group and institute.
• Carry out administrative work associated with the programme of research.

Job description

• Two UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 1
• Post Duration: 30 months
• Start dates: Post 1: Ideally commencing 1 Feb. 2027. Post 2: Ideally commencing 1 May 2027
• Location: UCD School of Civil Engineering, Dublin, Ireland
• Closing date for applications: 12:00 noon (local Irish time) on 09 November 2026. Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified.

SYN-Bridge (Synchronized Mobile and Stationary Sensor Networks for Real-Time Bridge Health Assessment) is a US-Ireland R&D Partnership project between University College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and a partner university in the United States. The UCD component is funded by Research Ireland. The project combines measurements from instrumented vehicles with stationary sensors on the bridge to produce reliable indicators of bridge condition.

The posts exist to deliver UCD’s contribution to Work Package 1, Development and Testing of Damage Detection Algorithms, which UCD leads. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the postholders will develop, test, and validate methods for assessing bridge condition, moving from numerical simulation through laboratory validation to field trials with project partners. The work will initially cover damage detection and the identification of vehicle loads, together with the probabilistic assessment of detection reliability and digital-twin modelling; the allocation of work between the two posts will depend on the expertise of the appointees and on how the research develops. Expected outcomes are validated methods, contributions to shared project datasets and peer-reviewed publications.

This is a research-focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.

The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research-led teaching.

In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidates will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:

• Develop and implement numerical models and algorithms for assessing bridge condition from vehicle and bridge response, in areas such as damage detection, identification of traffic loads, vehicle-bridge interaction and digital-twin modelling, probabilistic assessment of detection reliability and value-of-information analysis.
• Validate these methods against simulated, laboratory and field data. Work with the project partners at Queen’s University Belfast and in the United States and contribute to the integration of UCD outputs into the wider project.
• Take part in regular online project meetings and help organise consortium meetings hosted by UCD.
• Travel to consortium meetings in Northern Ireland and the United States, and to conferences, as required.
• Contribute to progress reports for the funders, and manage data, code and documentation in line with the project data-management plan.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a specified programme of research and scholarship under the supervision and direction of your Principal Investigator.
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by your Principal Investigator, your School or Institute, or the University.
• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which you are engaged as directed by and with the support of and under the supervision of your Principal Investigator.
• Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of your research group, School and Institute.
• Mentor and assist, as appropriate and as directed, the research graduate students in your group, School and Institute.
• Carry out administrative work associated with your programme of research.