News and media
New PhD Scholarship Opportunity within the Pregnancy Loss Research Group
The Pregnancy Loss Research Group is currently inviting applicants for a PhD Scholarship funded by Féileacáin (The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland). The project is titled ‘The Coronial Investigation into Perinatal Deaths – impacts on Coroners, bereaved parents, healthcare professionals and the community’.
The successful candidate will be working under the supervision of Professor Keelin O’Donoghue within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and in collaboration with the project members from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre and the School of Law.
About this research project
Changes in mandatory perinatal death notification, implemented in Ireland under the Coroner’s Act in 2019, have had a significant effect for all those involved in and affected by a Perinatal Death. Further research, specifically focussed on this issue, is required and can have an important contribution to the current practice around investigation of perinatal mortality in Ireland and all stakeholders involved in this process.
This research project aims to bring healthcare professionals, Coroners and patient representatives together in order to establish a platform for evidence-based reform of reviews of perinatal death. This will involve systematic reviewing of the literature, quantitative analyses on the perinatal deaths investigated by Coroners, perinatal death-related data, interviewing Coroners and healthcare professionals in relation to the perinatal Coronial investigation process, and media discourse analysis of Coroners, inquests and perinatal deaths.
Research outputs will include papers, policy guidelines and a report informing the process and with recommendations to practice focused not only on the healthcare professionals and Coroners but also on supporting bereaved parents. The findings of this work will build on previous work from the current research collaboration to inform the development of a resource for parents about perinatal death reviews.
Important dates
- The closing date for applications is Tuesday 2nd May 2023
- Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place in May 2023
- The scholarship may start in July 2023 or October 2023.
Further information
Full details of this PhD scholarship opportunity are available at: https://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/vacancies/ [Research vacancies]
For more information, please contact Professor Keelin O’Donoghue. Email: k.odonoghue@ucc.ie.