Postdoctoral Researcher/Research Associate - CRESTIMB Project, 1 FTE, School of Engineering, 011950

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time, fixed-term 12-month contract position as a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Timber Engineering Research Group (TERG) at the School of Engineering, University of Galway, Ireland.

This position is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and is available from 1 November 2026 to contract end date of 31 October 2027.

The InCREased Service life of innovative TIMber Building systems (CRESTIMB) project is funded in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the ForestValue2 Joint Call 2023 (Project Ref: 2023FV2252). This research is being carried out as part of a European consortium led by VTT (Finland) in collaboration with partners in Norway, Italy, Ireland, Slovenia, Poland and Australia, including 7 industry partners.

Project Background

CRESTIMB aims to develop an innovative timber system suitable for multi storey buildings with open spaces. The proposed system will include moment resisting frames made of softwood or hardwood glue laminated timber with innovative beam to column connections, and dowel cross laminated floor panels. With the objective to ensure an increased service life and the possibility of reuse, the long term behaviour of the system components will be investigated with an advanced numerical model including the rheology of wood under variable indoor climates. The numerical analyses will be assisted by experiments on softwood and hardwood samples, as well as full scale tests. The analysis results, in terms of creep deformations, moisture induced stresses and the related crack risk, will be made open access and also applied life cycle assessment (LCA) case studies of timber buildings.

This research will be conducted using the equipment, technical expertise, office and research space within the School of Engineering at University of Galway. The Alice Perry Engineering building houses state of the art Structural Engineering facilities, testing laboratories, research space and computer suites.

Salary

Postdoctoral Researcher salary scale €47,273 - €60,250 per annum, (subject to the project's funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part time contracts.

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project's funding limitations), where evidence of prior years' equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.

(Research Salary Scales - University of Galway)

Closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 (Irish Time) on 25th September 2026. It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.

Interviews are planned to be held on 5th October 2026.

• Please review full job description for further details and essential requirements.