Assistant Professor in Modern European History

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following position

Assistant Professor in Modern European History

School of History and Geography

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Permanent Contract

Dublin City University

Dublin City University (DCU) is a leading innovative European University, proud to be one of the world’s leading Young Universities. DCU is known as Ireland’s University of Impact, with a mission to ‘transform lives and societies’ and focuses on addressing global challenges in collaboration with key national and international partners and stakeholders. 

DCU has over 20,000 students in five faculties spread across three academic campuses in the Glasnevin-Drumcondra area of North Dublin. Thanks to its innovative approach to teaching and learning, the University offers a ‘transformative student experience’ that helps to develop highly sought-after graduates. DCU is currently No. 1 in Ireland for Graduate Employment Rate, and for graduate income (CSO). 

DCU is a research-intensive University and is home to a number of SFI-funded Research Centres. The University participates in a range of European and international research partnerships. DCU is also the leading Irish university in the area of technology transfer as reflected by licensing of intellectual property.

As a ‘People First’ institution, DCU is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - a University that helps staff and students to thrive. The University is a leader in terms of its work to increase access to education, and is placed in the world’s Top 10 for reducing inequalities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Overview of the department 

The School of History and Geography is an ambitious, research-intensive School in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. While possessing and promoting an international perspective, the School has a particular focus on Ireland – its geography, history and landscape. The combining of History and Geography created a School that is unique in Ireland in its interdisciplinary range and research potential, and that is well positioned to play a leading role, nationally and internationally, in the disciplines of History, Geography and Irish Studies. Both History and Geography are offered on the Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours programme, where they are consistently among the most popular subjects. The School offers an innovative BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability and also teaches History on the Bachelor of Religious Education and History. At postgraduate level both subjects offer a PhD programme; the School delivers an MA in History and contributes to the MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society. The School has a growing and dynamic postgraduate community.

Role Profile

The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to teach in their research specialisation but will also teach survey modules in modern European history. Consequently, the successful candidate will design and teach a combination of core and optional modules on the BA Joint Honours and Bachelor of Religious Education with History programmes, and may teach on other School programmes, such as the MA in History, and Faculty programmes, such as the BA Single Module programme, as deemed appropriate by the Head of School. 

The School also offers opportunities to supervise postgraduate students, and encourages and supports applications for external research funding. The School is committed to high quality research, expects its staff to publish regularly in leading journals and with leading university and academic presses, and supports its staff in such work. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not restricted to, the following: 

Teaching and Learning

Prepare, deliver and assess a range of modules in a manner consistent with DCU’s high academic standards and in a hybrid environment which combines on campus and elements of remote delivery. Teaching extends to supporting innovation in curricula development.  Typical activities include:

• Developing and delivering new or reconceptualised modules and resources in line with School practice.
• Designing, grading and providing feedback on examinations and other types of coursework.
• Using a wide range of teaching and assessment methodologies to foster a deep approach to learning and equip students with the skills and attributes needed to be lifelong learners. These will include challenge-based learning and concentrated and immersive learning experiences.
• Proactive engagement with the renewal of existing courses and programmes. 
• Engagement with professional development for teaching.
• Contributing to the design and development of new programmes.

Research and Scholarship

Conduct research and engage in scholarship of quality and substance in a manner in keeping with DCU’s high academic standards and research strategy. The appointee will be expected to have clearly articulated research interests and research profile development plans that support the school’s current research priorities.

Typical activities include:

• Publishing to the highest international standard both individually and, where appropriate, in collaboration with colleagues in DCU and elsewhere.
• Disseminating research to diverse audiences.
• Generating research income. 
• Supervising postgraduate students.

Service and Contribution to the University and Society

Contribute to administrative functions related to the activities of the School, the Faculty, the University and the profession. Examples include:

• Performing administrative roles as identified by the Head of School.  These may include some of the following: degree programme coordination; participation in School and/or Faculty committees; visiting students on placement within the DCU INTRA programme; student recruitment.
• Engaging with planning, quality review and improvement processes, and external programme accreditations. 
• Participating in appropriate professional bodies and associated initiatives. 
• Developing and delivering of the international activities of the School, including international travel to do so.
• Contributing to the collegial environment of the School. 

Qualifications and Experience:

The qualifications and experience sought are

Mandatory

• Applicants must hold a PhD in History or in a closely related field.
• Applicants’ research specialism must be focused on nineteenth or twentieth-century continental European history.
• Applicants must possess strong research credentials in the field of European history and a publication record appropriate to their career stage.
• Applicants must demonstrate how their research complements existing strengths in the School.
• The successful applicant will have an independent research programme, and have demonstrated the potential to attract research funding from competitive research funding schemes and/or industry. 
• Applicants must have teaching experience at undergraduate level. This experience should encompass innovative pedagogies and/or assessments, and/or online or technology-assisted teaching. 
• Applicants must have a willingness and demonstrated capacity to teach outside their area of research interest.
• The successful candidate will ideally have a minimum of three years’ relevant post-doctoral experience. 
• The successful candidate must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills consistent with the highest quality of teaching and learning, together with evidence of successful teamwork and a collegial approach.

Desirable

• Teaching experience at postgraduate level.
• Experience of postgraduate supervision.

Essential Training 

The postholder will be required to undertake the following essential compliance training: Orientation, Health & Safety, Data Protection (GDPR) and all Cyber Security Awareness Training.  Other training may need to be undertaken when required. 

Salary Scale: Assistant Professor (Above bar) - €63,311 - €101,461

Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy

Closing date: Friday, 16th May 2025

Remote Working Policy

From the 1st of November 2024, DCU will operate its newly agreed Remote Working Policy. Employees may be approved for up to 2 days of remote working per week (or an appropriate pro rata amount for those part time). Any remote working arrangement will be reflective of the predominant on-campus working environment and the core University value of 'Student Focused'. Employees will be based on campus for the majority of their working week to ensure a sustained on campus engagement and experience. The terms of the remote working policy will apply.

For more information on DCU and our benefits, please visit Why work at DCU? 

Informal Enquiries in relation to this role should be directed to:

Associate Professor William Murphy, School of History and Geography, Dublin City University. 

Phone + 353 (0)1 7009125 Email: will.j.murphy@dcu.ie

Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.