Research Assistant, CMAP

Trinity College Dublin; Dublin; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier university and hosts the CMAP project within the Geography, School of Natural Sciences. The Research Assistant will contribute to Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning (CMAP) as part of the Trinity Coastal Research Group, engaging with the first and second work packages focused on coastal change monitoring and ecosystem recovery.

The role involves desk-based analysis and field-based work, documenting activities at salt marsh sites, and supporting

Responsibilities

• Build on historical evidence of geomorphological evolution of salt marsh sites.
• Review best practices and lessons learned in citizen science salt marsh monitoring.
• Implement monitoring protocols and assist in placement of monitoring equipment for salt marsh elevation, accretion, sediment analysis, tidal inundation and wave exposure.
• Maintain a detailed notebook on site conditions and develop data records and archival for key salt marsh sites.

Job description

Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. Thrive: Trinity College Dublin's Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030

This Research Assistant will play a key role in the delivery ofthe PEACEPLUS‘CMAP’ (Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning) project as part of the Trinity Coastal Research Group based in Geography, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. CMAP’s key objective is to promote climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system-based approaches.

The Research Assistant will work with others in the project over the duration of the post to particularly engage with the first and second work package of the research project (‘Coastal Change Monitoring’ and ‘Ecosystem Recovery and Baseline Evidence’) by (a) building on existing historical (e.g. map) evidence of the geomorphological evolution of salt marsh sites within the project, (b) reviewing best practice and lessons learnt in the application of citizen science approaches to salt marsh monitoring, and (c) implementing monitoring protocols and assisting in the placement of monitoring equipment for salt marsh elevation, accretion, sediment composition, tidal inundation and wave exposure. The first two components will involve desk-based and some field-based work, the third will be largely field based.

Together with the project Principal Investigator (PI), Prof Iris Möller, the Research Assistant will assist project partners in the implementation of sedimentation-elevation table and bed-mounted water pressure based wate level and wave monitoring and will keep a detailed notebook on the condition of, and activities at, all salt marsh sites as well as build the data record and archive for all key sites.

Our Values - putting our words into actionValues matter. They are key to the success of our Strategic Plan. We centre our behavioural values around the importance of belonging. We recognise that the university will thrive by each of us respecting and caring for one another. We know we can achieve much more through working together. We know too that we must take responsibility for our actions and be accountable. We must, and will never stop, imagining. And through being nature positive we connect not just with the environment but with our ambitions for a sustainable future.

At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.

Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.