RCSI Strategic Academic Recruitment
THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE RESEARCH...
...WANT TO BE PART OF IT?
RCSI DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE LEADERS W HO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WORLDWIDE
Your Quick Guide to the StAR Programme: 3. What StAR Offers You 4. My RCSI Four RCSI researchers share their experiences of work and life in RCSI 8. The StAR Programme’s Research focus Help shape the future of healthcare research in: ›A dvanced Biomaterials, Stem Cells and Therapeutic Delivery › Cancer › I nfection, Immunity and Inflammation ›P opulation Health and Health Services/Primary Care › Respiratory Diseases ›N eurological and Psychiatric Disorders ›H ealth Professions Education › Cardiovascular Diseases 10. RCSI Supporting Researchers 12. RCSI International Research Collaborations 13. An Exciting, Diverse and Supportive Environment 14. How to apply to the StAR Programme.
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RCSI StAR Programme
StAR Introduction
An exciting opportunity for future leaders in international healthcare research
RCSI has been at the forefront of educating healthcare professionals since 1784. As a health-focused institution, we educate undergraduate Medicine, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy students and postgraduate research students across the spectrum of translational health research topics. We are an independent degree-awarding, not-for-profit organisation, charting a unique course in our quest to innovate and discover for the benefit of patients. RCSI’s Strategic Academic Recruitment (StAR) Programme is an ambitious initiative to accelerate the delivery of innovative, impactful research in the health sciences across a range of groundbreaking work including the creation of novel medical devices and the development of new therapeutics and new diagnostic tests. Through the StAR Programme, RCSI invites ambitious, visionary researchers to embark with us on the latest exciting phase in our research mission which will see us recruit 20 new academic posts of Research Lecturer as well as Assistant Professors, MD and PhD students throughout the 5 year programme. Backed by significant investment, our ultimate objective is to transfer impactful research discoveries more quickly to clinical practice
Professor Ray Stallings, Director of Research RCSI
for the benefit of patients. Our objective is to recruit outstanding candidates in research areas where RCSI has proven strengths (see page 8). Recognising the pivotal role of research in extending the frontiers of innovative healthcare, RCSI prioritises the nurturing of research talent through the commitment of a wealth of resources, all focused on a collegial academic and teaching environment that encourages each RCSI researcher to develop and grow. This latest phase of the StAR Programme embraces that commitment by offering researchers in the relevant subject areas a uniquely supportive and flexible environment, in conjunction with a highly competitive remuneration package.
What StAR Offers You › Research Lecturer positions based in the heart of Dublin › The salary for these positions is €63,125 until the posts are tenured as permanent academic lectureships (within three five years), with the potential to reach the top of the Lecturer scale of €84,689. › RCSI will support your research with potential investment of up to €150,000, including a four-year PhD studentship and career development investment.
YOUR RESEARCH PATHWAY, GUIDED BY YOUR StAR ADVISOR Each Research Lecturer will be linked with a StAR Advisor. Upon appointment, the Research Lecturer and StAR Advisor will devise a five-year plan for both research and teaching at RCSI. Support for a four-year PhD studentship and research including costs (consumables and travel) is provided with the Research Lectureship. The StAR Advisor will be expected to jointly supervise the PhD student’s thesis.
The five-year plan will address the following points: › The research questions and why they are significant and complement/differ from current state-of-the-art research and competitors worldwide › The PhD student’s research project › A strategy for winning leading grants › The mechanism by which the academic advisor will assist in achieving success › A plan for teaching, commencing in year two, coordinated and approved by the relevant Head of Department. The dedicated contact teaching hours will be provided in a supportive environment per semester enabling the development of teaching skills in advance of a permanent position.
YOUR StAR ADVISOR The StAR Advisor will typically be a more senior colleague from within your scientific discipline. The StAR Advisor will: › Share knowledge and expertise › Build working relationships across the team › Foster open communication and dialogue › A ssist with goal-setting and career management › Support new hires in taking responsibility for their own skills and career development. The StAR Advisor can also assist with many aspects of your career as a Research Lecturer including: › Developing a long-term research strategy › Helping to bring draft papers to publication › Targeting the most effective journals for publication › Developing strategies for responding to journal and grant reviewers › Identifying potential funding opportunities › Encouraging teamwork and networking › Preparing an effective grant application › Identifying the most effective conferences for presentation › Good practice in research supervision and training › Improving your profile.
StAR CAREER PROGRESSION YEAR 1 Focus
Progression
Research
YEAR 2 Research and Education 1Yr HPE Diploma *
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
Research and Education
Research, Education and Service
1Yr HPE Diploma *
Mid Yr 4:
Mid Yr 3: Early application Regular application date for date for permanent posts
permanent posts open and appointments made**
YEAR 5 Research, Education and Service Q1 Yr 5: Successful applicants in permanent posts
ANNUAL CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING * Please note a teaching qualification is required to achieve permanency ** For those who are successful in making early applications, permanent posts may commence from Q1 Yr 4
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StAR Vascular Biology
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) constitutes the most prevalent cause of death in the Ireland Professor James O’Donnell, Director of Irish Centre Vascular Biology, RCSI and Consultant Haematologist, National Coagulation Centre, St James’ Hospital. The Haemostasis Research laboratory led by Prof O’Donnell is focused on translational research into vascular biology and cardiovascular disease. Figures from the World Health Organisation’s Global Burden of Disease project demonstrate that up to 10,000 deaths per annum (36% of all Irish deaths) are caused by CVD. Coronary artery disease alone accounts for 5,000 deaths per annum, including 22% of all premature deaths occurring under 65 years old. Diseases of the heart and circulatory system are also the leading cause of mortality in Europe as a whole, where they are responsible for over 3.9 million deaths a year. With respect to global importance, more than 70% of CVD-
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related mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to these staggering mortality data, CVD is also associated with significant morbidity. In 2015, 11.3 million new cases of CVD were diagnosed in Europe, and more than 85 million people across Europe were estimated to be living with CVD. This European CVD burden was estimated to be responsible for a total cost of €210 billion to the EU economy. In view of the increasing age profile and obesity levels in the
population, these numbers are likely to increase significantly. In addition to CVD, vascular abnormalities also play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of other prevalent clinical conditions that cause significant morbidity. For example, changes in blood vasculature are critical in the development of diabetic complications and also in multiple aspects of cancer biology including angiogenesis and tumour cell metastasis. In addition, blood and endothelial cell pathologies are important in a wide variety of other diseases (e.g. malaria, sickle cell disease, haemophilia, vasculitis and complications of pregnancy). Consequently, elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the aetiology of vascular pathology, and developing novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, constitutes a global unmet need. In order to develop a strategically-aligned Irish research programme to address the huge morbidity and mortality associated
Cardiovascular disease constitutes the most prevalent cause of mortality in Ireland and the EU (3.9 million deaths per annum). The focus of this StAR appointment is to enable development of novel cross disciplinary research in vascular biology that is focused on spanning the bench to bedside continuum.
with CVD, leading Irish Principal Investigators in the cardiovascular field recently came together to develop the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology (ICVB) (officially launched on 30th March 2017 at a successful meeting in RCSI. The principal objective of the ICVB is to develop an integrated network of vascular research groups across Ireland. This will involve Ireland north and south, and will seek to span the ‘bench-tobedside’ continuum by uniting basic scientific and clinical researchers. By enhancing collaboration, communication, and building upon current Irish expertise in this field, the ICVB will enable development of a national translational vascular research programme focused on delivering novel therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and improvements in clinical management for patients. Critically, the ICVB endeavors to transcend traditional organ-specific approaches to vascular heath and disease. The integrative ICVB research program will thus attain critical mass and address important fundamental questions in vascular biology, with the ultimate aim of making breakthroughs in the
prevention and treatment of vascular disease. In parallel, ICVB provides a training platform for the next generation of outstanding vascular biology researchers and clinician scientists in Ireland, commencing with the appointment of this StAR Research Lecturer in Vascular Biology.
All together, the ICVB will establish a single Irish centre of excellence in vascular biology, recognised at an international level and constituting a key Irish research strength. For individual Irish vascular PIs, development of the ICVB offers exciting opportunities. Strategic investment in training and core infrastructure will foster novel opportunities to develop cross-disciplinary research in a disease-agnostic fashion, and facilitate dissemination of awareness within the community regarding existing national infrastructure. Crucially, the ICVB is industry-vfacing and partners with local SMEs and multinational pharmaceutical companies to achieve our shared goals - developing new treatments and technologies that reduce the overwhelming burden that vascular diseases place on Irish society.
Who’s involved • RCSI, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland • University College Dublin • Dublin City University • Trinity College Dublin • University College Cork • University College Galway • University of Ulster • Queens University Belfast • St. James’s Hospital, Dublin • Tallaght Hospital, Dublin • St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin • Mater Hospital, Dublin • Beaumont Hospital, Dublin • Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown • Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry • Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Dublin • Rotunda Hospital, Dublin • Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin • University Hospital Galway • Mercy University Hospital, Cork
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My RCSI
StAR Researcher Profiles
“The new StAR Research Lecturer Programme at RCSI is perfectly suited to combine productive research output with undergraduate teaching.” My postdoctoral research at RCSI focused on the study of chronic brain diseases. Competing in this competitive research field, requires cutting-edge techniques, interdisciplinary approaches and support from your research institution (eg. funding, industry contacts). All the necessary techniques required for my research are well set up at RCSI and expert help has always been at hand. RCSI has a highly interdisciplinary research environment, with people in different departments and research fields eager to collaborate. With my main focus on translational research, the close collaboration RCSI maintains with different
Tobias Engel, StAR Research Lecturer, Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI Current research includes the study of pathological changes which occur after brain damage and which lead to the development of epileptic seizures. Further research interest lies in the study of hyperexcitability as one of the causes which drive pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
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hospitals is particularly important. Staff in the RCSI Office of Research and Innovation are extremely proficient in identifying ideal funding strategies and have been very helpful during the different application processes; including my applications to the EU as coordinator of large scale research teams. Most importantly, people at RCSI have been very supportive to me throughout the years, contributing to a stimulating research environment. The new StAR Research Lecturer Programme at RCSI is perfectly suited to combine
productive research output with undergraduate teaching. While giving us the opportunity to be an active part of the teaching staff imparting lectures and tutorials to the School of Pharmacy and to medical students, the StAR Programme guarantees us sufficient protected research time to carry out our work in the laboratory. Progression in our teaching abilities is actively encouraged and RCSI offers several teaching courses, such as the postgraduate diploma in health education. This programme is especially suited to lecturers who want to carry out their independent research while being part of a multidisciplinary teaching staff.
Professor Andreas Heise, StAR Associate Professor of Chemistry and Head of Polymer Chemistry and Biopolymers Laboratory, RCSI Andreas is the principal coordinator for NeoGel, joint coordinator for Translational Research in Nanomedical Devices (TREND), and a key collaborator with CÚRAM, NanoCap and PoreSelect.
“From the planning to the realisation of the work, everything was carried out to an extremely high standard.” Prior to joining RCSI, I had been looking for a new professional and academic challenge as a senior researcher. I had already had a collaboration with RCSI for a few years. The new StAR Programme instantly appealed to me in terms of strategic career progression. I had several conversations with RCSI management and researchers, and I always came away with the impression of a professional environment. Most importantly for me, RCSI not only had an ambitious yet clear vision of where it wanted to be in the future, but it also had an action plan to get there. The StAR Programme is one element of that overall plan. From a research perspective,
one of the most positive aspects of my experience so far at RCSI was the serious capital investment that was made into new laboratories for my research group. From the planning to the realisation of the work, everything was carried out to an extremely high standard. RCSI has kept every promise in setting up my group in a state-of-the-art laboratory environment. I was involved in all planning steps and was always kept up-todate with the building process. Everybody involved in this project, including the Office of Research and Innovation, the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry and RCSI Estates, went beyond the call of duty to make this happen. Another positive aspect of my research experience at RCSI
has been the high level of approachability of colleagues. RCSI combines several research disciplines under one roof, which presents an opportunity to develop multidisciplinary research. The potential challenge of communicating across different discipline specific languages is offset at RCSI, as it is easy to approach people to discuss projects, or simply to ask a question. There is a balanced and supportive working environment in RCSI, with a healthy worklife balance that supports the needs of employees with young families. The city-centre location of RCSI is something that I genuinely enjoy, with the opportunities it brings to socialise and take the occasional stroll in St Stephen’s Green.
RCSI StAR Programme
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Tríona Ní Chonghaile, StAR Research Lecturer, Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI The main focus of Tríona’s research is in the area of understanding why certain cancers are sensitive to chemotherapy while others are resistant, and how best to treat resistant cancers using novel drug discovery approaches.
“Strong core facilities enable researchers to perform world-class research that has the ability to impact patient care.” The big advantage of the StAR Programme is that it comes with a start-up package. This allows the Research Lecturer to initiate their research as soon as they join RCSI, and it provides leverage to apply for other funding opportunities. In my opinion, this is a particularly special and innovative aspect to the programme. Another distinctive aspect of the programme is that, during the first year, we are given the opportunity to focus completely on initiating a research programme, with limited responsibilities in terms of teaching and administration. It is a real privilege to have protected time to establish our research strategy and build a research team prior to taking on
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additional university duties. The most distinctive feature of the RCSI campus to me has been the collegiality. I have found everyone to be exceptionally friendly and helpful. It is one of the advantages of a small university in that you get to know people and you can call someone up to ask for help and to understand how things work. This has meant that my move to RCSI has been seamless and I have been able to initiate my research programme with ease. RCSI is a health sciences focused institute with strong links to hospitals, including a clinical research institute at Beaumont Hospital to enable clinical collaborations and
translation of research. Core research facilities within the institute include biobanking, protein array technology, molecular and cellular imaging, small animal and human imaging, genomics and systems modelling. These strong core facilities enable researchers to perform world class research that has the ability to impact patient care. For me this means easy and early introductions to key hospital clinicians to truly promote translational research collaborations.
“I have all I need to carry out outstanding research in nanomedicine aiming to develop new therapeutic approaches to treat chronic diseases.” The StAR Research Programme is carefully tailored to support emerging researchers, allowing us to carry out real, breakthrough research. In particular, as the teaching obligations commence in the second year of enrolment, researchers have one year to establish research groups, to focus exclusively on research and to apply for future funding. I am also making strong links with my new colleagues and I am receiving excellent support and guidance from my advisor, my head of department and colleagues from different schools. Since the StAR Research Programme aims to increase excellence in research, the College strongly encourages
developing connections with strategic partners and with researchers and institutions also working in the private sector. A few months ago, I was awarded the Science Foundation Ireland Industry Fellowship and I am currently undertaking a secondment at Ludger Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company specialising in glycoprofiling located in Oxford. I am receiving excellent training because of this grant and I will transfer this newly acquired knowledge to my team at RCSI. The flexibility of the StAR Research Programme has allowed me to benefit from this excellent experience. Another positive aspect of this research programme, is that I have been awarded generous
‘seed’ funding that covers the cost of consumables and salary for a PhD student. This allows me to commence my research immediately without the need to wait for the award of a national or international grant. Additionally, I feel lucky to be surrounded by colleagues with excellent knowledge in many strategic fields such as applied chemistry, physiology, tissue engineering and physiology. RCSI has a warm and exciting atmosphere that facilitates these enjoyable collaborations and interactions. I feel lucky to be part of RCSI and to be a StAR Research Lecturer. I have all I need to carry out outstanding research in diagnostics and to develop new drugs and novel biomarkers to treat chronic diseases.
Marco Monopoli, StAR Research Lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, RCSI Marco is establishing a multidisciplinary research focused on obtaining a complete understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between nanomaterials and living systems essential for nanomedicine, nanotoxicology applications and to evaluate their environmental impact.
RCSI StAR Programme
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RCSI Supporting Researchers
RCSI recognises that excellence in research is critical to the quality of its educational activities, its credibility and its mission to enhance human health. In that context, RCSI’s investment in the StAR Programme is a core component of a broader commitment to research. That wider commitment is reflected in RCSI’s strategy for excellence in translational research and its €50m investment in both its educational and research activities. The five-year investment plan is set to create 100 research jobs, including 40 full-time academic posts, and will provide new laboratories and facilities to support their work.
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As an exclusively health sciencesfocused institution with strong links to acute hospitals and institutions that reflect the diversity of healthcare facilities and needs, RCSI is uniquely placed to develop and enhance translational research for the benefit of patients and the healthcare system. Importantly, RCSI academic staff, who have joint appointments with hospitals, bring to RCSI, clinical expertise and resources that are essential to deliver truly translational research,
The five-year investment plan is set to create 100 research jobs, including 40 full-time academic posts.
from bench to bedside to population and vice-versa.
RCSI’s Research Institute, a multi-site biomedical research facility comprising research laboratories and core research infrastructures across the St Stephen’s Green campus and the Education Research Centre (ERC) at Beaumont Hospital. The ERC also houses RCSI’s Clinical Research Centre (CRC), the first clinical research facility in Ireland.
Improving Human Health: RCSI’s Strategy for Excellence in Translational Research 2014-2020 focuses on innovative research that leads to better diagnostics, therapeutics and devices. It will also tackle important healthcare delivery issues, inform policy and clinical practice, and enhance the quality of education of healthcare RCSI also has research facilities professionals. at other hospitals in the RCSI Hospitals Group, including the The profile of RCSI Research Rotunda Hospital and Connolly achieved a new level of Hospital. prominence in the year 2000, both nationally and To promote research and internationally, when RCSI seed fund clinician-scientist became the lead institute in collaborations, between 2004 four inter-institutional PRTLI and 2013, RCSI invested €59m of (Programme for Research in its own non-exchequer funding Third Level Institutions) funded in research infrastructures, programmes with total funding human resources and research of €86m. In 2005, we launched projects. Crucially, it has been
able to attract and retain world class researchers through joint funding support from RCSI, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI: Professors, Stokes Chair, Walton Award, President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, Principal Investigator Awards), the Health Research Board (HRB Clinician Scientist Awards and Translational Research Awards, co-funded with SFI) and the European Research Council for the highly prestigious Investigator grant. These developments and successes have helped to drive the continuous enhancement of RCSI’s research infrastructures and the expansion of its research community.
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RCSI Research International Collaborations
RCSI Research collaborates with almost 900 institutions globally, resulting to date in over 1,700 co-authored publications.
Europe 799
North America 321
Middle East 56
Asia Pacific 354
Africa 44 South America 44
REGION TOTALS Worldwide
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COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS
CO-AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS
1618
2072
Africa
44
49
Asia Pacific
354
256
Europe
799
1823
Middle East
56
61
North America
321
466
South America
44
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RCSI StAR Programme
An Exciting, Diverse And Supportive Environment At RCSI, the individual researcher is embraced by an international network of colleagues, staff and healthcare organisations, as well as a research culture that is exciting, academically rigorous and imbued with a commitment to providing leadership in the improvement of healthcare across the globe. A truly international College and Research Institution, RCSI offers a comprehensive research experience that prepares the way for a pioneering life of leadership in healthcare research.
509 2016 PUBLICATIONS
2014 PUBLICATIONS
429
18.6% INCREASE IN SCOPUS INDEXED PUBLICATIONS BETWEEN 2014–2016 AT RCSI
Top 2% Ranked among the Top 2% of Universities in the World
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1,354
Postgraduate Students - Highest proportion of Doctorates to Undergraduate Degrees Awarded in Ireland
Overseas Campuses – Malaysia (2), Bahrain, Dubai
22.5% Highest success rate in Horizon 2020 funding by an Irish institution
€183m
RCSI’s Gross Value added to the Irish Economy
2.1
Highest field-weighted citation impact in Ireland and twice the World Average
One of the
Top 5
institutions in the World for international students
2,271
Undergraduate students - Lowest staff student ratio in Ireland
Highest institutional income per Academic Staff FTE in Ireland RCSI StAR Programme
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StAR Research Lecturer in Vascular Biology
HOW TO
APPLY TO THE RCSI STRATEGIC ACADEMIC RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME - StAR Professor James O’Donnell and the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology are looking to appoint a suitably qualified Research Lecturer in Vascular Biology. Applications are sought from candidates who are at an early stage in their career and have demonstrated scientific excellence with clear potential to become research leaders as evidenced by high impact publications, fellowships and awards received.
Successful applicants are expected to have a research track record that would make them competitive for ERC grant support. Interested candidates should visit rcsi.ie/star to view the job description and application process.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For informal enquiries, please contact Judy Walsh in Human Resources on:
+353 1 402 2440 or email: star@rcsi.ie CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS – 5pm on SEPT 29th, 2017
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RCSI StAR Programme
RCSI StAR Programme Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn 123 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 402 2100 rcsi.ie/star
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH MEDICINE PHARMACY PHYSIOTHERAPY NURSING & MIDWIFERY SURGERY LEADERSHIP POSTGRADUATE STUDIES RADIOLOGY DENTISTRY SPORTS & EXERCISE MEDICINE