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About the group project:
The renovation and public closure of Trinity College Dublin’s (TCD) Long Room in the Old Library present an unparalleled opportunity to conduct pioneering research “on”, “through”, and “for” this iconic space. This initiative will redefine how we preserve and enhance one of Europe’s premier cultural heritage landmarks. This project will delve into aspects of the Long Room that have been largely overlooked: its acoustic experiences and sonic architecture. This project will use state-of-the-art robot-aided acoustic measurements and employ advanced computational and acoustic modelling techniques to create a versatile Acoustic Digital Twin, which will be combined with existing 3D image data. This approach allows for an unprecedented exploration of Long Room's physical properties, enabling new acoustic experiences for both physical and virtual visitors. Building on previous research, e.g., the “Jonathan Swift in VR/AR Long Room Project” in 2018, this project will 2 create immersive XR experiences that preserve and reimagine the library’s significance through site-specific media art and storytelling. This research will set a precedence for future heritage preservation efforts by developing a preservation-by-design strategy accompanied by experts at TCD’s digital library and the Digital Repository of Ireland. This project addresses the Trinity College’s research themes on “Identities in Transformation” and “Digital Humanities” by preserving and innovating the Long Room through state-of-the-art acoustic and digital technologies. By creating immersive and interactive experiences, we aim to foster meaningful connections between visitors and the cultural significance of the Long Room. Furthermore, this project aims to promote inclusiveness by enabling personalised experiences for vision-impaired and hearing-impaired visitors and for those with diverse linguistic backgrounds and neurodivergent needs. We aim to create a resilient digital preservation system for sustainable long-term inclusive access. The project comprises four work packages including the training of four PhD researchers in four different disciplines under one unifying project goal: To preserve, enhance, and reimagine the Long Room Library’s unique acoustic and cultural heritage by creating a pioneering Digital Acoustic Twin that integrates advanced acoustic measurements with immersive storytelling tools, fostering innovative interdisciplinary research and transformative cultural experiences.
Application Procedure
Applicants should submit:
1. A cover letter that outlines how the candidate meets the person specification and their preliminary research ideas and/or creative ideas for engaging with this PhD project.
2. Academic writing sample in English (2,500 words – can be an extract of a longer work)
3. English-language competency (see accepted supporting documents here: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/)
4. Academic transcript(s)
5. Curriculum Vitae
6. Names and email addresses of two referees (at least one should be an academic reference).
Please submit the above-mentioned application documents by 12pm (GMT) on 26th June 2026 to:
Name: Dr Jennifer O’Meara, Associate Professor in Film Studies, Trinity College Dublin Email Address:
[email protected]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.
