Postdoctoral Researcher – Empirical Law & Bioethics

About the role

The School of Law & Criminology at Maynooth University seeks a postdoctoral researcher to join the ERC‑funded PatentsInHumans project. You will investigate how patent rights affect access to health technologies and the associated bioethical issues across Europe.

Key responsibilities

• Design and conduct semi‑structured interviews and focus groups with patients, clinicians, legal professionals and other stakeholders.
• Analyse qualitative data to identify challenges and implications of patent law on healthcare access.
• Collaborate with the Principal Investigator to integrate findings into project reports and academic publications.
• Present research outcomes at conferences and internal seminars.

Required profile

• PhD completed in law, bioethics, health policy or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of empirical research methods, especially qualitative interview and focus‑group techniques.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary research team.

Required skills

• Qualitative research design and data collection.
• Interview and focus‑group facilitation.
• Qualitative data analysis (e.g., coding, thematic analysis).
• Academic writing and presentation skills.

What we offer

• Salary range €47,273 – €47,880 per annum (Level 1 post‑doctoral).
• Fixed‑term appointment within a prestigious ERC‑funded project.
• Access to university resources, mentorship, and opportunities for high‑impact publications.
• Equal‑opportunity employment environment.