Post Doctoral Researcher, School of Law & Criminology

Organisation/Company MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY Research Field Juridical sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 5 Aug 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Ireland Type of Contract Other Job Status Full time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Department: School of Law & Criminology

Vacancy ID: 042723

Closing Date: 05-Aug-2026

We are currently seeking to appoint an excellent candidate with strong knowledge of empirical research methods and analysis, including for example semi structured expert interviews and/or focus groups, to join the European Research Council (ERC) funded PatentsInHumans project team as a postdoctoral researcher.

The PatentsInHumans project aims to develop a deeper understanding of, whether and to what extent bioethical issues posed by patent grant and use over technologies related to the human body are currently considered, if at all, within the relevant legal and other decision making systems in Europe. The post holder will work with Prof Aisling McMahon (Principal Investigator), School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University to conduct empirical research with relevant stakeholders, including patients, medical practitioners, members of the legal community, etc to further our understandings of how patent rights can impact access to health technologies, and potential impacts of this on healthcare, including bioethical implications. They will work with the PI to conduct semi structured interviews and focus groups with relevant experts and stakeholders to gain qualitative understandings of the potential bioethical implications posed by patents over such technologies and to develop deeper understandings of any challenges to engaging with these under the current decision making systems in Europe.

Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions.

Closing Date:

23:30hrs (local Irish time) on Wednesday, 5th August 2026.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified above. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Maynooth University is an equal opportunities employer

The position is subject to the Statutes of the University