Title: School of Pharmacy Scholar

Department: School of Pharmacy

Tenure: 4-year funded PhD programme
Location: 123 St. Stephens Green
Reporting to: School of Pharmacy, RCSI, Dublin 2

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a private, self-financing, not-for-profit medical
and surgical college headquartered in Dublin (Ireland) with global reach through its overseas
medical universities and health care centres in the Middle East, the Far East and Africa. Since its
foundation in 1784, it has played a leadership role in Irish surgical and medical education.
Currently, it operates the largest Medical School in Ireland and provides undergraduate
education in Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and Nursing. In addition to Surgery, it also provides
postgraduate training and education in Radiology, Dentistry, Nursing & Midwifery, Sports and
Exercise Medicine, Healthcare Management and Leadership, and has an Institute of Research.

DESCRIPTION:

Expressions of Interest are invited for two positions of Scholar in the RCSI School of Pharmacy.
As part of this role, the successful applicants will each be registered for a funded PhD, with the
School covering the tuition fees and providing an annual stipend of 18,000. An international
travel grant of 1,500 is also included to support an international excursion undertaken
throughout the research study.

Scholar activities will include a combination of laboratory/practical demonstrations, tutorials,

lecturing, supervision of undergraduate research students, outreach activities, assessment and
correcting. Some or all of these activities will comprise a maximum of 1.5 days per week during
each academic term.

Scholars will have the choice of selecting one of the two research studies listed below which
upon successful completion leads to the award of a NUI/RCSI Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD).
1. Development of a theory-based intervention to improve long-term use of benzodiazepines
and Z-drugs in primary care.
Inappropriate long-term use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs persists in primary care settings
worldwide and can give rise to a range of adverse effects (e.g. cognitive and psychomotor
impairment). This aim of this project is to develop a theory-based intervention to improve long-
term use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in primary care. The project will involve a mixed
methods approach that will allow the student to develop a comprehensive range of quantitative
(e.g. pharmacoepidemiology) and qualitative research skills (e.g. semi-structured interviews,
focus groups, intervention coding using a theoretical framework of behaviour change). The
project will align with the Medical Research Councils complex intervention framework and
comprise a number of discrete work packages, including: (1) a systematic review; (2) a
pharmacoepidemiological study of benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing patterns; (3)
qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (e.g. patients, healthcare professionals) to explore
barriers/facilitators to the discontinuation of the long-term use of these medications; (4)
triangulation of data from Work packages 1-3, above, to develop an intervention using
established behaviour change techniques; (5) a small-scale feasibility study of the intervention
to gather feedback from key stakeholders regarding the interventions usability and
acceptability. The intervention that will be developed will be ready for further evaluation and, if
found to be effective, it could help to improve long-term use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in
primary care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Main Supervisor: Dr. Cathal Cadogan
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Cristn Ryan
Further enquiries to: Dr. Cathal Cadogan (email: cathalcadogan@rcsi.ie)

2. Medication Safety in Neonatal Intensive Care.

The proposed project is in the area of clinical pharmaceutics and is a collaboration between the
School of Pharmacy, RCSI and the Pharmacy Department and the Department of Paediatrics,
Rotunda Hospital. This project will examine and determine flow characteristics for typical
infusion setups currently used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Rotunda
Hospital. This study will also prioritise a list of commonly used NICU drugs and will establish flow
rate characteristics for each one using IV infusion circuit architectures specific to clinical
practice.
Main Supervisor: Dr. Fiona OBrien
Co-Supervisors: Prof. Brian Cleary, Prof. Naomi McCallion.
Further enquiries to: Dr. Fiona OBrien (email: fionaobrien@rcsi.ie)

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Applicants should indicate their specific PhD of interest in their application. If applicants have
further queries on the listed projects in this competition they are weclome to directly contact by
email the main supervisor.

Specifically the duties of this post will include (but are not limited to) the following:

SCHOLAR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordinating and delivering teaching (lectures and tutorials) and practicals: commitments
will include managing the timetabling and supervision of practicals as agreed with the
relevant module leader, in conjunction with the Head of School.
Liaising with technicians with respect of setup/materials required for practicals.
Preparation and correction of student practical manuals and lab books/demonstrator lab
books.
Responding to student queries relating to practicals.
Contributing to the assessment of other modules as agreed with your Supervisor, in
conjunction with the Head of School.
Delivery of lectures related to the Scholars area of expertise (in Years 3 and 4 of the PhD)
Supervision of Senior Cycle Student Research Projects (SC1) as agreed with your Supervisor,
in conjunction with the Head of School.
Participation in School outreach activities as agreed with your Supervisor, in conjunction with
the Head of School.

PHD ACTIVITIES:

Researching, planning and conducting experiments required to achieve the aims and
objectives of the PhD project.
Taking direction from Principal Investigator but also operating independently once direction
has been set.
Carrying out own research work to deadlines.
Keeping up to date with relevant publications in the field.
Preparing annual reports and meeting administrative requirements of any funding agencies
and the RCSI School of Postgraduate Studies.
Undertaking Scholar activities as agreed in conjunction with your Supervisor and the Head of
School.
Recording all methods and results to Departmental and College standards.

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GENERAL DUTIES:
Working in a co-operative fashion and as an effective team member.
Complying with statutory legislation and School rules and requirements in furtherance of
your own general welfare and safety, along with that of your colleagues.
Undergoing programmes of training and development as may be required from time to time.
Representing the best interests of the School/College at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:
A primary degree in pharmacy is preferable but not a necessity.
Applications are invited from enthusiastic and highly motivated individuals with a keen
interest in a relevant area of Pharmacy research.
Candidates should display:
o A good knowledge base, with evidence of interest in their research area of choice
o A capacity for independent thinking
o A professional work ethic
o The ability to organise themselves
o A willingness to learn
o Innovation and creativity
o Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
o A capacity to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently, in a non-
structured environment
o Attention to detail, thoroughness in work practices and an ability to work to deadlines

Application Procedure
Applications for this post must be made via the RCSI Careers website at ww.rcsi.ie/careers
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday August 18th 2017.
Please include a CV and a detailed covering letter outlining your suitability for this role.

Queries:
For any queries relating to the application process, please contact Maire Ryan in the RCSI HR
department on +353-1-402 2505 or by email at MaireRyanHR@rcsi.ie
Ms. Ryan can arrange for relevant queries on the academic aspects of the role to be
addressed by Prof. Paul Gallagher (Head of School)

Note: this Job Description may be subject to change to reflect the evolving requirements of the
Department and RCSI in developing healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide.

RCSI is an equal opportunities employer