Post Doctoral Researcher - Data Engineering (inTrusted Project)

Job Title

TU-RISE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER Data Engineering (inTRUSTED project)

Reporting to

Nimbus Research Group Lead

Faculty & Department

Engineering Department/Research Group/Centre: Nimbus

Location

MTU Cork Campus Bishopstown

Duration

24-month Fixed Term Whole-Time Contract (latest contract end date 31st December 2028)

Funding / Project

Tu-Rise Project Acronym: inTRUSTED Recruitment Type: External Competition

About the Institution

Munster Technological University (MTU) is a multi-campus technological university, contributing to the region through the provision of academic programmes that support student development and opportunities, education and research. MTU has an extensive and impressive regional footprint with six campuses across the South-West region of Ireland, in Cork and Kerry, and a student body of 18,000. Jointly funded by the Irish Government (Higher Education Authority) and the EU through the European Regional Development Fund, the TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise (TU-RISE) programme supports the building of research capacity in higher education institutions in the technological sector. Under the TU RISE programme, MTU was awarded funding to expand our researcher human capital through building a substantial additional cohort of researchers, integrating postgraduates, Post Doctoral Researchers, and highly experienced research leaders, who, working with our already-established research community, will add critical capacity focused on expanding engagement and on MTUs regional, national, and international ambitions. MTU is seeking persons with a relevant PhD qualification and suitable experience to fill the roles of Post Doctoral Researchers. The Post Doctoral Researchers contract must end by 31st December 2028. These appointments are open to new recruits only; extension of existing research staff contracts cannot be funded. Successful candidates must hold a PhD degree at their contract start date.

Project Overview

The inTRUSTED Living Lab is a multidisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing trust in digital ecosystems through the integration of creative practice, human-centered co-design, technical innovation, and policy alignment. It integrates expertise in inclusive digital transformation, fine art, applied art, digital art, AI, cybersecurity, edge computing, and regulation to address the challenges of trust, compliance, and usability in next-generation networks. The inTRUSTED Living Lab will foster collaboration between researchers, industry and policymakers, ensuring that trust frameworks are not only technologically robust but also aligned with societal and ethical expectations.

Project Details

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Datasphere4Trust project focusing on the design, development and deployment of a distributed and adaptive policy framework to enhance trust and security across federated data space networks. This project is part of the inTRUSTED Living Lab and involves several key components, including defining best practices, interoperability standards, and an architectural framework for embedding robust policy management across complex edge-cloud networks. Additionally, the project will develop novel approaches to implement an adaptive approach to policy and governance management across distributed networks based on operating context, compliance requirements and potential cybersecurity risks. The researcher will work closely with academic researchers, industry experts, and stakeholders to advance the operation of secure federated data spaces, data protection, privacy and digital trust frameworks.

Responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Research (general): Conduct a specific programme of research and scholarship under the general guidance of a member of the academic staff or Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Leader (PL). Engage in training and development opportunities as required by the PI/PL. Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed by, with the support of and under the supervision of the PI/PL. Engage in postgraduate student supervision. Engage with industry partners, as per research programme requirements. Acquire generic and transferable skills (including project management, business skills and postgraduate mentoring/supervision), subject to availability within the University.

Research (specific to the project): Research & Development Conduct cutting-edge research in the areas of data spaces, distributed policy management, data protection and privacy, ensuring alignment with project goals. Develop, test, and refine trust protocols to enhance data protection, security, and efficiency of data-driven applications deployed across federated data space networks. Contribute to the development of a distributed management toolkit to ease the specification, deployment and enforcement of data and AI services within data space environments. Publish findings in top-tier journals and conferences.

Experimentation & Prototyping: Design and execute experimental studies and proof-of-concept implementations to validate the developed tools, modules and AI services. Integrate and utilise edge-cloud network testbeds and data space infrastructures to assess adaptive trust management and validate the ability to maintain trust, reliability and compliance under various operating conditions. Evaluate trust, usability, and compliance aspects of developed solutions in line with industry and regulatory standards.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with academic researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers (e.g. IDSA) to translate research into real-world data space applications. Lead or participate in workshops, co-design sessions, and interdisciplinary discussions to refine policy methodologies and align research with industry needs. Contribute to public engagement and knowledge dissemination, presenting research at conferences, policy forums, and industry panels.

Supervision & Mentorship: Provide mentorship and guidance to PhD students, research assistants, and MSc students in areas related to data spaces, policy management, and data protection. Assist in developing training materials, tutorials, and hands‑on workshops for students, project partners, and practitioners.

Grant Writing & Dissemination: Assist in preparing funding proposals and research grant applications to expand the scope of trust and policy management research in data spaces. Develop policy briefs, technical reports, and white papers on data protection, policy management and trust frameworks.

Interdisciplinary & Impact‑Oriented Research: Contribute to the development of human-centred methodologies, ensuring that data governance or policy solutions are transparent, fair, and explainable. Participate in interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating insights from law, policy, human-computer interaction, and industry practice.

Administration/Management: Carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post. Assist in the management/co-ordination of key aspects of the research programme (e.g. financial management, reporting, equipment management, etc.). Funding Contribute to identifying external funding sources and assist with writing grant proposals.

Key Skills & Experience Required

Essential: Hold a PhD in a relevant discipline at the contract start date. Relevant research experience. Self‑starter who is comfortable with working independently at project level, while still contributing to the team environment at a research unit level. Demonstrable research skills, proposal and report writing, and project management skills, as indicated by a track record of projects, publications and other research outputs. Fluency in English and excellent written and oral presentation skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Specific to the project: PhD in Computer Science, Distributed Software Architectures, Artificial Intelligence, or a related discipline. Strong research background in data management, including policy governance or data sharing, exchange or federated data spaces. Demonstrated ability to publish in high‑impact peer‑reviewed journals/conferences. Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative research team. Strong software development and testing skills.

Desirable: Proven record of high‑quality research. At least three years post‑PhD or equivalent research experience. Strong publication record. Knowledge and understanding of policy, practices, and procedures that are relevant to the role, to include knowledge and understanding of Research Ethics, and may also include broader university, sectoral, and external sponsor or funder policies. Knowledge of modern networking technologies. Knowledge of cloud/virtualisation platforms and data spaces. Experience in engaged research methodologies, such as co‑design, Living Labs, or industry collaboration. Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, regulatory compliance (NIS2, AI Act), or ethical AI. Experience in mentoring or supervising early‑career researchers (PhDs, research assistants). Strong communication skills and experience in presenting research to diverse stakeholders.

Terms of Appointment

Salary Scale: Post Doc Researcher €47,273 to €55,399 per annum, depending on experience

Fixed term Contract: 24 months to 31st December 2028 at the latest

Hours: 35 hours per week

Annual leave: 26 days per annum

Benefits and Perks

• Comprehensive Sick Leave Policy
• Paid maternity leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff Discount Scheme
• Gym Access (reduced membership cost)
• On site Car Parking
• On site dining facilities
• On site TFI Bike Sharing Station

Interview Process

If invited to interview, it is likely candidates will be assessed at the interview under the following criteria (additional criteria may be added for the interview as the need arises): Appropriateness of the candidate to the role and assessment of current skills set to the outlined criteria for the role. Essential and desirable skills set. Fluency in written and presentation skills in English. Independent motivation and team contributions.

Application Deadline

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1.00 pm on Friday 25th September 2026

Additional Information

A successful candidate will be required to submit a passport, documentary evidence confirming academic qualifications, and to undergo a medical examination. Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance may also be required. References will be sought in relation to successful candidate. MTU welcomes applications from non-EEA citizens. However, employee permit regulations set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment must be strictly adhered to. Any appointment offer to Non-EEA candidates is subject to the granting of a work permit by Euraxess Ireland or relevant Immigration permissions/stamp. Candidates may be required to produce documentary evidence to support any statements made on their application form or any supporting documentation. Candidates should note that any inaccurate information will invalidate their application.

Equality & Inclusion

MTU is an equal opportunities employer. MTU is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or membership of the travelling community. MTU supports equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion and encourages under-represented groups to make applications and accommodates candidates with disability to apply for posts.