Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a fixed term position, which may be full-time or part-time as agreed between the successful applicant and the supervisors, as a Research Assistant with the School of Law at the University of Galway, Ireland.
This position is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and is available from 1st January 2026 to contract end date of 31st December 2027.
Project Overview
The Irish Government is committed to the expansion of wind energy as a key component of national renewable energy targets, aiming to significantly increase renewable electricity generation by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, recent nuisance claims related to wind farm operations have created significant uncertainty for both the continued operation of existing wind farms and the future development of wind energy infrastructure in Ireland.
A growing body of evidence suggests that wind turbine sound (WTS) and associated annoyance are key drivers of community opposition. However, the relationship between acoustic exposure, perceived annoyance, and the emergence of legally recognised nuisance claims remains poorly understood. In particular, annoyance is not yet clearly defined or operationalised in a way that links physical sound characteristics to human perception and legal interpretation.
The WindACT project addresses this gap through a multidisciplinary investigation of how wind turbine sound leads to annoyance, how annoyance may translate into nuisance claims, and how such claims are interpreted within legal frameworks. The project integrates engineering, psychology, and law to provide a comprehensive understanding of these complex interactions.
The position will be supervised by Professor Rónán Kennedy and Dr Ursula Connolly of the School of Law at the University of Galway, in collaboration with Dr Eoin King of the School of Engineering and Dr Denis O’Hora of the School of Psychology. The successful applicant will investigate how Wind Turbine Sound (WTS) induces annoyance, the relationship between annoyance and nuisance claims, and the interpretation of such claims in the legal context.
Salary
Salary: Research assistant salary scale €34,129 - €44,311 per annum (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.
The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.
Research Salary Scales - University of Galway
Employment permit restrictions may apply for this category of post (for part-time post)
Closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 (Irish Time) on Friday, 27th November 2026. It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.
Please review full job description for further details and essential requirements.
Requirements
- Research Field: Juridical sciences » Other
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent