Project Introduction
This role is connected to the ‘Demolition Take Down: Assemblages” project, funded under Creative Climate Action Fund III (2026-2029). This project is a collaborative project led by TU Dublin and in collaboration with Islander architects and Fingal County Council.
This project seeks to shift industry wide culture and behaviour around construction and demolition waste through architecture, innovation and stakeholder participation. Building on ‘Demolition Take Down’; it moves from awareness to action- making the case, creatively and collectively, for reuse over demolition. Working in Balbriggan-a designated Decarbonisation Zone- it aims to utilise arts and creative practice across three distinct strands to revalue and reuse the existing while:
- Improving carbon literacy among public, professional and local authorities
- Reducing construction & demolition waste at source and diverting it from landfill
- Activating the higher education sector to shape emerging cultures within the industry
A key aim for this project will be to encourage more existing buildings to be adapted, renovated and reused. Another important aim is to develop conversations about sustainability in our built environment to move from operational carbon towards a greater recognition of embodied carbon; thereby keeping the culture of a building intact as much as possible.
Role Description
The Research Assistant will be required to undertake research and analysis in the project area of existing buildings, embodied carbon and adaptive reuse, as part of the ‘Demolition Take Down: Assemblages” project research Team.
The role will involve research and analysis (including embodied carbon metrics, good practice case studies and policy) and contributing to the development of building case study mapping processes and the development of Climate Impact Assessment (CIA) Frameworks for embodied carbon analysis. This work will identify and record not just the material value of existing buildings, but also their cultural and social value too.
The successful candidate will work closely with the project team including the Principal Investigator, Creative Practitioner(s), external Project Evaluator and interested stakeholders and parties to support the project aims of facilitating a shift in industry wide culture and behaviour around construction and demolition waste through architecture, innovation and stakeholder participation; making the case, creatively and collectively, for reuse over demolition.
The candidate will also contribute to stakeholder engagement activities, reporting and dissemination outputs
Hours of Work
A 37-hour working week is in operation. This can be reviewed by collective agreement, with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Having regard to the nature of the work, attendance outside these hours may be required from time-to-time.
Location
The post will be predominately based at the TU Dublin Bolton Street campus. There will however be a requirement during key project stages for the candidate to be based 1-2 days a week in the project base in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Attendance at other sites for workshops/stakeholder engagement will be required.
Salary
It is expected that appointees will commence at point 01 of the relevant pay scale i.e. Research Assistant €34,130, unless the arrangements set out in Circular Letter 08/2019 apply PMSS---Starting-Pay---Revised[1]Arrangements.pdf.
Closing Date
5pm (Irish Time) on Wednesday, 11th November 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
It is anticipated that interviews for this post will take place in week beginning 14th December 2026. The interview assessment will be 45 minutes in length and will include a presentation of 8 minutes duration.
The topic of this presentation will be as below:
“Making the case for Adaptive Reuse over Demolition of Existing Buildings”
It is anticipated that interviews for this position will be conducted in person. In limited and exceptional circumstances, requests for a remote interview may be considered. However, approval is not guaranteed and remains subject to operational feasibility and board approval.
The University currently does not reimburse interview related travel expenses
Application details/procedure
For further information, or to make an online application for the above post, please visit www.tudublin.ie/vacancies;
TU Dublin is an equal opportunities employer.
Requirements
- Research Field: Engineering
- Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
- Languages: English
- Level: Excellent