Research Assistant – Demolition Take Down: Assemblages Project (A Creative Climate Action project funded by Creative Ireland)(Specified Purpose Wholetime to December 2029)(Reference: 501/2026)

Technological University Dublin; Ireland; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Technological University Dublin invites applications for a Research Assistant role linked to the Demolition Take Down: Assemblages project funded under Creative Ireland. The post is a Specified Purpose, wholetime appointment to December 2029, based in Ireland with project collaboration across sites.

The role focuses on research and analysis of embodied carbon in existing buildings, stakeholder engagement and dissemination of findings to support reuse over demolition.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required for the R1 research position.

Responsibilities

• Undertake research and analysis in the project area of existing buildings and embodied carbon.
• Contribute to building case study mapping processes and Climate Impact Assessment frameworks.
• Record material, cultural and social value of existing buildings.
• Support project aims through stakeholder engagement, reporting and dissemination.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Organisation/Company Technological University Dublin Department Human Resources Research Field Engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 11 Nov 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/Dublin) Country Ireland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Applications are invited for the following post:

Research Assistant – Demolition Take Down: Assemblages Project (A Creative Climate Action project funded by Creative Ireland) (Specified Purpose Wholetime to December 2029) (Reference: 501/2026)

Project Introduction

This role is connected to the ‘Demolition Take Down: Assemblages’ project, funded under Creative Climate Action Fund III (2026-2029). This project is a collaborative project led by TU Dublin and in collaboration with Islander architects and Fingal County Council.

This project seeks to shift industry wide culture and behaviour around construction and demolition waste through architecture, innovation and stakeholder participation. Building on ‘Demolition Take Down’; it moves from awareness to action- making the case, creatively and collectively, for reuse over demolition. Working in Balbriggan-a designated Decarbonisation Zone- it aims to utilise arts and creative practice across three distinct strands to revalue and reuse the existing while:

• Improving carbon literacy among public, professional and local authorities
• Reducing construction & demolition waste at source and diverting it from landfill
• Activating the higher education sector to shape emerging cultures within the industry

A key aim for this project will be to encourage more existing buildings to be adapted, renovated and reused. Another important aim is to develop conversations about sustainability in our built environment to move from operational carbon towards a greater recognition of embodied carbon; thereby keeping the culture of a building intact as much as possible.

Role Description

The Research Assistant will be required to undertake research and analysis in the project area of existing buildings, embodied carbon and adaptive reuse, as part of the ‘Demolition Take Down: Assemblages’ project research Team.

The role will involve research and analysis (including embodied carbon metrics, good practice case studies and policy) and contributing to the development of building case study mapping processes and the development of Climate Impact Assessment (CIA) Frameworks for embodied carbon analysis. This work will identify and record not just the material value of existing buildings, but also their cultural and social value too.

The successful candidate will work closely with the project team including the Principal Investigator, Creative Practitioner(s), external Project Evaluator and interested stakeholders and parties to support the project aims of facilitating a shift in industry wide culture and behaviour around construction and demolition waste through architecture, innovation and stakeholder participation; making the case, creatively and collectively, for reuse over demolition.

The candidate will also contribute to stakeholder engagement activities, reporting and dissemination outputs

Hours of Work

A37-hour working week is in operation. This can be reviewed by collective agreement, with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Having regard to the nature of the work, attendance outside these hours may be required from time-to-time.

Location

The post will be predominately based at the TU Dublin Bolton Street campus. There will however be a requirement during key project stages for the candidate to be based 1-2 days a week in the project base in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Attendance at other sites for workshops/stakeholder engagement will be required.

Closing Date

5pm (Irish Time) on Wednesday, 11th November 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

It is anticipated that interviews for this post will take place in week beginning 14th December 2026. The interview assessment will 45 minutes in length and will include a presentation of 8 minutes duration.

The topic of this presentation will be as below:

“Making the case for Adaptive Reuse over Demolition of Existing Buildings”

It is anticipated that interviews for this position will be conducted in person. In limited and exceptional circumstances, requests for a remote interview may be considered. However, approval is not guaranteed and remains subject to operational feasibility and board approval.

The University currently does not reimburse interview related travel expenses

TU Dublin is an equal opportunities employer.