Laois County Council Masters Scholarship 2021

Post summary

Applications are invited for this fully funded 2 year Masters programme, working with Laois Co Council to develop a cycling culture in Portlaoise. In many cities worldwide cycling is seen as a promising answer to a variety of urban problems, such as traffic congestion, urban pollution and transport carbon emissions. Most urban policies seeking to encourage cycling have focused on urban planning and design measures, and on the provision of dedicated cycling infrastructure but establishing a cycling culture is an essential element. This is an implementation science project which builds on knowledge gained from Kilkenny which has been cultivating a cycling culture in recent years. Critical components of implementation science include having an understanding of local context and participatory research approaches. The aim of this project is to translate the process of building a cycle culture in the city of Kilkenny to Portlaosie and measure the key implementation factors for success

Objectives

1. To identify public attitudes towards cycling related infrastructural, programming and policy measures amongst adults in Portlaoise
2. To use digital storytelling to visualise potential intervention measures and understand the lived experiences of residents and visitors travelling around the town one means of communication in Portlaoise
3. To identify the systems which would contribute to the building of a cycling culture in Portlaoise and build a collaboration between these systems and measure the implementation of the processes learned in Kilkenny.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

·        Applicants should hold or expect to attain, as a minimum a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Exercise and Health Science, Recreation/Leisure, Health Promotion , Public Health, Planning, Transport, Built Environment OR a related discipline

OR

·        Hold an MSc/MA degree in one of the above disciplines

Desirable

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

·        Research methods, research design and evaluation methods

Desirable

·        Relevant experience working in a community or workplace setting 

·        Knowledge of settings-based physical activity or health promotion

·        Statistical analysis using appropriate software

·        Collection and analysis of qualitative data

·        Design, collection and analysis of quantitative survey data

·        Experience of working across systems or intersectoral working

Skills & Competencies

Essential

·        Very strong interpersonal skills

·        Very high level of academic writing

·        Personal organisational skills

·        Ability to work as part of a larger team

Desirable

·        Knowledge of the vicinity of Portlaoise

·        Be willing to be based in Portlaoise town

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see WIT’s English Language Requirements for details.

Further information

For any informal queries, please contact  Dr Niamh Murphy at email:nmurphy@wit.ie

For queries relating to the application and admission process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office via email rpgadmissions@wit.ie  or telephone +353 (0)51 302883.

Website: https://www.wit.ie/future_students/postgraduate_studies/funded_opportunities

Application procedure

Download the Research Postgraduate Application Form and return completed applications to rpgadmissions@wit.ie, quoting the reference number in the email subject line.

Please note that paper submissions will not be accepted.