Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following position #003467 Postdoctoral Researcher in Physical Activity and Motivation, up to 24 Month Fixed Term Contract
Background & Role
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Researcher position on the HRB Investigator-Led Project ‘Understanding and Enhancing Adolescent Physical Activity Through Expectancy-Value Theory and a Utility-Value Intervention’, hosted in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dublin City University (DCU), Glasnevin campus.
This 24-month project investigates whether Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT)-based reflective writing tasks can be adapted and delivered as a feasible, acceptable approach to promoting physical activity among Irish secondary school students. The project combines systematic review and meta-analysis, a large cross-sectional study of adolescent motivational beliefs and physical activity, and a proof-of-concept school-based intervention trial — with accelerometer-based activity measurement throughout.
The successful candidate will join a research team where methodological rigour runs through everything we do. We pre-register our studies, share data and code openly, and choose validated instruments over convenient ones. We work across meta-analysis, cross-sectional survey design, and school-based intervention – recognising the limitations of what each can and cannot tell us.
Beyond the methods, we believe the best school-based interventions create genuine value for schools, teachers, and students while asking as little of them as possible – fitting naturally into everyday educational practice.
We value clear thinking over complex framing, and good ideas are welcome from wherever they come. The team is small and collaborative, within a large supportive department ecosystem, and there is real scope for the right candidate to learn and develop important research skills, and grow as a researcher.
We take the work seriously. We do not take ourselves too seriously.
The contract term is up to 24 months, subject to adjustment based on the initial start date.