Trinity is Ireland’s leading university and is ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. Thrive: Trinity College Dublin's Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030
Post Summary:
A Research Assistant (RA) is required to support a new 5-year research programme led by Prof Denise Fitzgerald called ‘Harnessing the immune system to repair the brain’. The research programme will be based in Trinity College Dublin and will have a particular focus on neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), tissue regeneration and ageing. The RA will play a supportive role in delivering the research programme with the Fitzgerald lab team.
This Regenerative Neuroimmunology research programme encompasses discovery, clinical and translational research including clinical trial activity and places a strong emphasis on engaged research, positive research culture and collaboration. Murine and human neuroimmune studies incorporating in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experimental models, biobanking and clinical studies will be central to the work of the lab. The team will directly work with clinical collaborators across at least 2 hospital sites. Significant local, national and international collaboration are a central tenet of the programme. The main lab will be located in Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute with additional activity at St. James’ Hospital, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Beaumont Hospital and we will partner with FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science. This post will require flexibility to work across sites when needed.
The Fitzgerald group in TCD will work closely with the Fitzgerald group in Queen’s University Belfast (https://fitzgeraldlab.co.uk/) which is part of the Northern Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Hub (https://msresearchni.co.uk/).
The successful candidate will support an ambitious, collaborative and productive team of interdisciplinary researchers. Initially, the RA will work with the senior members of the team during laboratory setup and support experimental model/protocol establishment and optimisation, experiment planning and monitoring, data analysis, and day-to-day general research tasks. In the longer term, the RA will contribute to general operations of the lab and team.
Please note that the role may require national and international travel at times, in line with the duties and responsibilities of the post.
Informal enquiries about this post should be made to**: Dr Eric Campbell** (
[email protected])
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit a CV and brief cover letter (max. 1 page) explaining how their experience meets the essential criteria and where relevant, the desirable criteria, along with names and contact information for 2 referees. Please submit files in PDF format only to the following email address:
[email protected]
Please use ‘RA lab oversight’ in the email subject line.
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed.
Our Values - putting our words into action
Values matter. They are key to the success of our Strategic Plan. We centre our behavioural values around the importance of belonging. We recognise that the university will thrive by each of us respecting and caring for one another. We know we can achieve much more through working together. We know too that we must take responsibility for our actions and be accountable. We must, and will never stop, imagining. And through being nature positive we connect not just with the environment but with our ambitions for a sustainable future.
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all individuals, including those with disabilities, those who have followed non-traditional career paths, and those who have taken time out for reasons such as family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants, including those who have been displaced due to conflict or war.
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s premier university. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and hold an Athena Swan Silver Award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and across the higher education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work–life balance and creating a family-friendly working environment.