Ad Astra Fellow- in AI and Digital Cultural Heritage

Ad Astra Fellow - Lecturer/Assistant Professor in AI and Digital Cultural Heritage

Apply & further details: https://www.ucd.ie/adastrafellows/en/ucdcollegeofsocialscienceandlaw/

Job ref: 018077

Position Summary:
UCD School of Information and Communications is undergoing a major period of growth, with successful undergraduate and graduate educational programmes and an ambitious programme of research across a range of
subfields including library and information studies, communication and media studies, digital policy, human computer
interaction, information systems, science/technology/society (STS), applied artificial intelligence and critical digital media. The school is seeking to recruit an Ad Astra Fellow in AI and Digital Cultural Heritage who will provide research leadership within the school and across the wider university, in this important field. Reporting to the Head of School, the Ad Astra Fellow will have a key role in research and scholarship, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and academic administration, management and professional organisation in the academic areas of Information and Communication Studies, in active collaboration with colleagues in this School, in the other schools of the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law and throughout the University.
The School of Information & Communication Studies is committed to research-led education, and the candidate will
be expected to conduct research in the area of AI and Digital Cultural Heritage that supports high quality teaching in
their field, and to lead innovations in both research and teaching as well as expanding and deepening our partnerships with sectoral stakeholders nationally and internationally. The candidate will be expected to seek national and international research funding opportunities to grow capacity and consolidate relevant interdisciplinary interests
across the college and university, towards developing a dedicated research group in AI and digital cultural heritage
studies, thus enhancing UCD’s profile in this area.
The Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) programme at ICS is a foundational taught programme of
relevance to this area of research and attracts Masters applicants from North America, Europe and Ireland. This Ad
Astra fellow will pursue growth in taught graduate enrolment on this topic, as well as engage with funding opportunities to develop AI and GLAM research, offering a pathway for PhD candidates from 2026. The candidate
will contribute especially to the newly revised and accredited MLIS and demonstrate the ability to enhance existing
digital cultural heritage contributions and offerings in the programme. The candidate will also be invited to design a
new AI-focused interdisciplinary module that will be delivered across our MSc in Human-Computer Interaction, MSc
in Communication and Media programme, as well as MLIS to further build synergies within the School. The candidate
will also contribute to the development of new undergraduate modules for the BSc in Social Science (ICS) and BA in
Creative and Cultural Institutions to which ICS is a key contributor, to enhance ICS UG offerings and inform discussions on a potential AI related major on the undergraduate DN700 BSc programme.
With UCD’s new HEA supported micro credential strategy a scholar with this expertise will also support potential
development of micro credentials in AI and digital GLAM studies, to meet the demand for skills development from
professionals working in the Irish cultural heritage sector.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
The principal duties and responsibilities attached to this post will be:

Teaching
• Teach selected undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses as may be assigned by the Head of School or nominee.
• Supervise undergraduate and taught Masters research projects
• Engage in programme and curriculum design and review
• Design and implement a range of appropriate methods of teaching and assessment
• Provide academic counselling and advice to students

Research
• Engage actively in research and scholarly activity and disseminate the results of research through publication in international peer-reviewed academic journals and by other appropriate means
• Supervise and manage student research projects and supervise postdoctoral researchers
• Engage actively in initiatives to successfully attract research funding
• Engage in the development of interdisciplinary research initiatives
• Provide leadership by coordinating and managing the day-to-day research activities of research groups and interactions with collaborating partners where applicable

General
• Participate in and show leadership in the academic administration of the Subject Area, School and appropriate University bodies
• Undertake specific roles and functions in the Subject Area, School and other University bodies as may be
reasonably requested
• Promote the development of the Subject Area, School and the University
• Maintain the highest professional standards enhancing Subject Area, School and University performance
• Contribute to the academic life of the Subject Area, School, College and University and to the wider educational community
• Support student recruitment activities
• Undertake other such duties as directed by the Head of School in line with the contract of employment.

Lecturer/Asst Professor Above The Bar (7943) Salary Scale €62,855 - €99,533per annum
Appointment will be made on scale and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines.
Details on eligibility to compete and pension information is available at https://www.ucd.ie/hr/resourcing/eligibilitytocompete/
UCD is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is afforded equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from everyone, including those who identify with any of the
protected characteristics that are set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy. Learn more about Diversity at
https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/diversity/
Reasonable accommodations will be provided to any applicant during the interview process who discloses they have
a disability or are neurodiverse.

Selection criteria
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would
need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the
basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory

• Be in receipt of a primary degree appropriate in the Subject Area and School applied to.
• Hold a PhD in a relevant discipline awarded by a recognised Institute.
• Be committed to high-quality university-level teaching, learning and student support.
• Have a high-quality publication record commensurate with the stage of their career.
• Possess excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Research in an area that strengthens or strategically complements the existing research profile of the School.
• Demonstrate how they can positively contribute to fostering an inclusive environment and a level of awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Provide evidence how they align with the UCD Strategy and UCD Values.

Further details and to apply: https://www.ucd.ie/adastrafellows/en/ucdcollegeofsocialscienceandlaw/