Professor in Educational Psychology
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Professor in Educational Psychology, 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 Psychology is an ambitious and research-intensive School in the Faculty of Science and Health. Established in 2019, DCU’s School of Psychology is composed of experienced and dedicated staff with leading expertise in a broad range of areas within the field of psychology. The School brings together our flagship BSc in Psychology, which has been running since 2010, the new BSc in Psychology and Mathematics and BSc in Psychology and Disruptive Technologies, a distance education level 8 psychology programme, our suite of postgraduate courses including the MSc Psychology (Conversion) and the MSc Psychology and Wellbeing, and a vibrant PhD community. The School continues to build on our longstanding research activity and collaborations, and its thriving community engagement. We are student-centred, research-intensive, globally engaged, collaborative and inclusive. It offers an innovative and exciting environment in which to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in psychology and to undertake cutting-edge research.
Role Profile
We are seeking to add a permanent Professor of Educational Psychology who will report to the Head of School of Psychology. This is a new position. The successful candidate will have a professional qualification in Educational Psychology, experience of working in the field as well as a clear track record in leadership and a strong academic track record in Educational Psychology. The successful candidate will lead in programme development and programme co-ordination and will contribute high-quality teaching. The successful candidate will also lead a high-quality research programme and actively participate in the School’s external engagement and enterprise activities. Further, the successful candidate will demonstrate leadership in all domains of the role and will contribute to placement supervision, research supervision and the external engagement activities of the School and University. This post provides an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to play a key role in the further development of the School’s success and national and international reputation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not restricted to, the following:
Teaching and Learning
To lead teaching and learning activity in the School by
- Delivering teaching in a manner consistent with the highest academic standards;
- Using a wide range of teaching and assessment methodologies which foster a deep approach to learning and which equip students with the skills and attributes needed to be lifelong learners;
- Designing, developing and leading new undergraduate and post graduate programmes
- Enriching the scholarship of teaching within the School;
- Fostering a culture of teaching innovation and a positive learning environment within the School;
- Providing research supervision for undergraduate students and postgraduate students.
Research and Scholarship
To lead research activity in the School by:
- Leading an internationally recognised and impactful research programme in their own field of expertise;
- Publishing new ideas and findings in top tier international journals;
- Seeking and raising funds from external agencies and/or organisations to support personal and School research initiatives ;
- Translating research knowledge, as appropriate, in keeping with the DCU strategic plan to transform lives and societies;
- Leading the development of collaborative and interdisciplinary research within the School and wider University ;
- Providing hands on collegial research mentorship to early career academics;
- Leading the dissemination of research via the hosting of research conferences, seminars, and workshops;
- Enhancing the reputation of the School in the international research community via conference presentations, journal editorships, external examining, etc.;
- Developing and leveraging international research networks to enrich the research activity of the School;
- Enriching the research culture and environment in the School.
Service and Contribution to University
To help enhance the reputation of the DCU School of Psychology through
- engagement in, and leadership of, external academic, business (including consultancy), professional, public sector and community and out-reach activities (approved by the Executive Dean, where appropriate);
- Representing the School in activities such as marketing activity and the recruitment of students and INTRA (work placement) visits.
Leadership
To contribute to the leadership, management and administration of the School by:
- Influencing the School’s strategic planning and direction;
- Delivering management and service roles at a School, Faculty and University level to a high standard;
- Active engagement in and leadership of accreditation related activities;
- Developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders within and outside the University;
- Participating proactively in relevant School and University committees, working groups and meetings;
- Engaging in, and contributing to, staff development activities.
Qualifications and Experience
- Applicants will hold a doctorate in Educational Psychology and will have a minimum 5 year’s practitioner experience in a psychology service.
- Applicants must be eligible for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and for CORU registration as an Educational Psychologist.
- Applicants will have a significant track record of excellence and innovation in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels including supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
- Applicants will demonstrate evidence of an established and impactful research programme in their field.
- Applicants will have strong research credentials, a proven track record of attracting external research funding, and an excellent and sustained publication record commensurate with their career stage.
- Experience of curriculum development and innovative pedagogical approaches is highly desirable.
- Familiarity with the Irish Education and Healthcare systems is highly desirable.
- Applicants should demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with evidence of successful teamwork and a collaborative and collegial approach.
- Applicants should demonstrate evidence of purposeful and impactful external engagement (academia, enterprise community, media and wider society) and the ability to foster and extend national and international linkages and alliances
Essential Training
The postholder will be required to undertake the following essential compliance training:
● Orientation
● Health & Safety
● Data Protection (GDPR)
● Cyber Security Awareness
● Performance Review & Development (PRD) (People Managers only)
● AI Literacy
Other training may need to be undertaken when required.
Salary Scale:
Professor - € 104,516.00 - € 139,696.00, refer to DCU Payscales for the applicable payscale.
Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy
Closing date: 30th September 2025
Remote Working Policy
DCU operates a 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:
Dr Sinéad Smyth, Head of the School of Psychology, Dublin City University.
Phone + 353 (0)1 7007422 Email: sinead.smyth@dcu.ie
Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.