Vacancies at the Centre for Health Research Methodology

About the Role

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed term position as a Research Fellow in Evidence Synthesis, with Evidence Synthesis Ireland, based in the Centre for Health Research Methodology at the University of Galway, Ireland. This position is funded by the Health Research Board (Ireland) and the HSC Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) through Evidence Synthesis Ireland, and is available from 1st November 2026 to 30th November 2030.

The post holder will plan, conduct and support prioritised national and international evidence syntheses, integrating capacity-building within these activities. The successful candidate will contribute to the Centre's synthesis programme, leading evidence syntheses across diverse study designs and a programme of primary synthesis methodology research. They will also help build capacity through ESI's training programme, and will have access to an extensive educational programme for their own professional development.

Interviews are planned to be held online on 29th October 2026.

Key Duties

• Conduct a specified research programme, engaging with stakeholders to define research questions and suitable methodologies
• Collaborate with national and international teams to plan and deliver evidence syntheses
• Define research objectives, conduct original research, and develop novel synthesis methods
• Manage research projects and budgets in line with University policies
• Publish regularly in reputable peer-reviewed journals
• Contribute to training, mentor ESI Fellows, and support postgraduate research students
• Lead junior colleagues, peer review manuscripts and research bids, and provide expert advice
• Develop and implement quality assurance measures, and incorporate public involvement in reviews

Essential Requirements

• PhD in a health science subject
• At least 4 years' experience in evidence synthesis
• 4-6 years full-time postdoctoral research experience
• High-quality, peer-reviewed evidence synthesis publications, including at least 3 published systematic reviews/evidence syntheses as first author
• Ability to generate grant income as evidenced by being Principal Investigator or Co-applicant on nationally competitive health research funder grants
• Experience of managing and mentoring junior team members and supporting them to deliver high-quality work on time
• Experience overseeing all aspects of the systematic review process from question formulation through to publication
• Experience of coordinating and liaising with large multidisciplinary teams

Desirable Requirements

• Mentorship of junior colleagues in synthesis processes
• Expertise in meta-analyses as evidenced by published meta-analyses as lead or senior author
• Lead or senior author of a Cochrane review
• Experience of teaching evidence synthesis methods
• Lead author or co-author of an evidence synthesis methods paper
• Excellent IT skills, including RevMan, reference management software and literature databases

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Nikita Burke at nikita.burke@universityofgalway.ie