DIAS is celebrating an excellent start to 2020, with receipt of funding for a new Senior Professorship in Physics. The announcement was made Friday 03 January by Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.

This new position is the result of the Government’s “Senior Academic Leadership Initiative” (SALI). The ultimate goal is to address the gender imbalance at senior academic level in higher education institutions in Ireland.  

The initiative will fund academic roles where there is clear evidence of a gender imbalance, and in 2020 a total of 20 new positions will be introduced in higher education institutions throughout Ireland.

Welcoming the announcement, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “I am delighted DIAS has been selected to be one of the first institutions selected to receive this groundbreaking funding.”

“The data shows irrefutably that women are not sufficiently represented in senior academic roles. Therefore, the work being undertaken by the Government to accelerate the correction of this imbalance is to be welcomed.  Having a more representative academic profession will benefit us all.

“I look forward to the new Senior Physics Professor taking up the position once the recruitment process has been completed. I am sure an excellent contribution will be made that will benefit the broader Irish physics community.” 

Applications are now being accepted

SALI Senior Professor in Physics (Astrophysics, Geophysics or Theoretical Physics) – Closing date extended to 19 June 2020