Postdoctoral Researcher

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI); Dublin; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to coordinate the PIONEER-CRC feasibility cluster RCT within the PRiCAN program. You will manage sites, recruit practices, oversee data systems and ensure fidelity of the intervention.

The role focuses on coordination, ethics submissions, and governance while supporting feasibility evaluation, acceptability and safety outcomes in colorectal cancer screening pathways.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience coordinating or supporting clinical trials or health service interventions.
• Strong understanding of primary care research or cancer diagnostics pathways.
• Experience with data collection and management systems (REDCap or equivalent).
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Experience with cluster randomised trials or feasibility/pilot studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day coordination and delivery of the PIONEER-CRC feasibility cRCT within PRiCAN at RCSI.
• Oversee recruitment, intervention rollout, data systems and trial governance.
• Prepare ethics submissions and trial governance materials; manage data protection documentation.
• Support embedded sub-studies (e.g., SMS reminder SWAT) and qualitative interviews.
• Engage with GP practices, laboratories, and digital providers; involve PPI contributors for co-design and evaluation.

Education

PhD in Public Health / Epidemiology / Clinical Research

Tools

REDCap

Job description

Job Title: Postdoctoral Researcher - Primary Care Clinical Trials

Department: General Practice, RCSI

Reporting to: Professor Patrick Redmond

Location: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin

Contract/Duration: Specified purpose contract, up to 36 months

Remuneration: Up to €48,337 per annum, depending on experience

Closing Date: 5pm 13th October 2026

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 through the PIONEER-CRC (Patient-Initiated FIT Pathway for Low-Risk Colorectal Symptoms) study, a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial led by Professor Patrick Redmond within PRiCAN (Primary Care Research into Cancer), based in the Department of General Practice at RCSI. PIONEER-CRC evaluates whether a patient-initiated faecal immunochemical test (FIT) pathway for adults presenting with low-risk colorectal symptoms can be delivered safely, acceptably, and at scale within Irish general practice. The successful candidate will act as Trial Manager/Study Coordinator, embedded within PRiCAN and working closely with general practices, data and digital partners (e.g. REDCap/Luscii systems), and governance structures. The role will focus on coordinating trial delivery, ensuring fidelity of the intervention, and supporting the generation of feasibility evidence to inform a future definitive trial.

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 fellowships or other funding opportunities to extend their research, with the potential to secure up to four additional years of funding.

This role offers a unique opportunity to:

• Build your academic publication record through collaborative research targeting high-impact journals.
• Present findings at international conferences, gaining visibility and recognition in the field.
• Contribute to PRiCAN’s diverse research portfolio while developing skills in stakeholder engagement, trial design and health policy translation.

Summary of Post

The post-holder will lead the day-to-day coordination and delivery of the PIONEER-CRC feasibility cRCT, ensuring high-quality implementation across participating GP practices. They will oversee recruitment, intervention rollout, data systems, and trial governance processes, while supporting evaluation of feasibility, acceptability, and safety outcomes. This is a key role within a flagship PRiCAN trial, offering the opportunity to contribute to practice-changing research in colorectal cancer diagnosis pathways.

Specifically, the duties of the post are:

• Trial Coordination & Implementation: Coordinate the setup, delivery and implementation of the trial across participating GP practices; Manage site recruitment and onboarding; Deliver and support practice training and ensure adherence to study protocols.
• Data Systems & Monitoring: Oversee data collection, monitor recruitment, and ensure compliance with study protocols and governance standards.
• Ethics & Regulatory Support: Prepare and manage ethics submissions, data protection documentation and trial governance materials in line with national and EU regulations.
• Process Evaluation & Substudies: Support delivery of embedded sub-studies, including the SMS reminder SWAT and qualitative interviews with patients and staff.
• Stakeholder & PPI Engagement: Liaise with GP practices, laboratory partners, and digital providers to ensure smooth trial delivery; Engage with Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors to support co-design and evaluation activities.

Qualifications & Experience – (Essential):

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Public Health, Epidemiology, Clinical Research, Health Services Research).
• Experience in coordinating or supporting clinical trials or complex health service interventions.
• Strong understanding of primary care research and/or cancer diagnostics pathways.
• Experience with data collection and management systems (e.g. REDCap or equivalent).
• Excellent organisational, project management, and communication skills.
• Experience with cluster randomised trials or feasibility/pilot studies.
• Knowledge of FIT testing, colorectal cancer pathways, or early cancer diagnosis.
• Experience in implementation science (e.g. process evaluation, fidelity assessment).
• Experience working with digital health tools or remote monitoring platforms.
• Experience in qualitative research or mixed-methods studies.
• Familiarity with health economic evaluation or real-world data linkage (e.g. registry data).

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 — we’d love to hear from you.