3-year PhD studentship: Examine Bioenergy planning requirements insights and stakeholder’s perceptions in Ireland (BioEInsights)

We invite applications for a three-year funded PhD studentship in the School of Applied Social Studies at University College Cork (UCC). This is part of BioEInsights, an SEAI-funded project led by the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) at Tyndall National Institute, that aims to develop an impactful method to engage with stakeholders on bioenergy installations to achieve the decarbonization target of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.

The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary team of social scientists in UCC and researchers in Tyndall to identify and analyse the understandings, perceptions, and concerns of stakeholders, including local communities, farmers, producers, investors, local authorities, policy makers, etc.

Funding

The PhD position is funded for 3 years. It includes a stipend of €25,000 per annum, with tuition fees covered.

Start Date

September 2025

Eligibility Criteria

Essential:

• A minimum 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Social Science, Sociology or other closely related discipline.
• Strong interest in community research and climate change.
• Demonstrated research skills, including experience with interviews, focus groups, surveys and analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Desirable:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent research experience) in a relevant field (e.g., social science, social policy, sociology or other closely related discipline).
• Knowledge of mixed method research design and analysis.
• Familiarity with research and statistical software packages such as Qualtrics and SPSS.