Representations of Corruption in the British, French, and Italian Press: Audience Segmentation and the Lack of Unanimously Shared Indignation

About the role

The DCU Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society is seeking a Researcher to work on the EUComMeet project, a Horizon Europe-funded project. This project examines how online and offline deliberative processes can be scaled and combined to strengthen democratic participation across the EU.

Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on democratic deliberation and public participation.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of experimental and comparative studies across multiple European countries.
• Engage with academic literature on deliberative democracy, political communication, and public opinion.
• Analyse data from deliberative events, surveys, and other empirical sources.
• Write and co-author academic papers, reports, and policy briefs.
• Present findings at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Collaborate with project partners across Europe, including universities and civil society organisations.
• Contribute to the management and coordination of project activities and deliverables.

Requirements

• PhD completed or near completion in political science, sociology, communication studies, or a closely related discipline.
• Proven track record of research on deliberation, participation, or democratic innovation.
• Experience with qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups, discourse analysis) and/or quantitative methods (e.g., survey design, statistical analysis).
• Strong publication record appropriate to career stage.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Qualifications

• Expertise in deliberative democracy theory and practice.
• Familiarity with EU policy frameworks and democratic governance.
• Experience working in international, collaborative research projects.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.

Skills

• Advanced data analysis skills (e.g., using SPSS, R, NVivo, or similar).
• Excellent writing and communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks.

Pay

€45,000–€55,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time, fixed-term contract for 24 months, with possibility of extension. Flexible working arrangements may be considered.

Benefits

• Access to DCU's comprehensive research support and training programmes.
• Opportunity to work with a leading interdisciplinary team on high-profile European research.
• Career development support, including conference attendance and publication mentoring.
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme.