Posted 19 June, 2026
PhD Studentship
University Vacancies Ireland
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Temporary
Reference: 1716850657
Post Status: Fixed-term Contract or Specific Purpose Contract - Full-time.
Department/School/ Research Group: Department of Film, School of Creative Arts.
Location: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Reports to: Jennifer O'Meara, Associate Professor in Film Studies
Terms & Conditions: Annual stipend of 25,000 euros + EU / non-EU tuition fees for 48 months.
Closing Date: 12pm (GMT), 26th June 2026.
Post Summary
PhD-3: Audiovisual Media Experiences using the Long Room's Multimodal and Acoustic Digital Twin
Part (3 of 4) of group project: From Silence to Story: Revisiting TCD's Long Room through Acoustics and Immersive Storytelling
Core Principal investigators: Nicole Basaraba (Digital Humanities); Jennifer O'Meara (Film Studies / Creative Arts); Nils Peters (Engineering); Gareth Young (Computer Science). Supporting
Principal Investigators: Fionnuala Conway; John Kennedy; Francis Boland
Funding provided by: Trinity Doctorate Research Award (Group) 2026
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 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.
Person Specification
Minimum eligibility requirements:
• A minimum 2.1 (Upper Second Class Honours) achievement in an undergraduate degree, equivalent to Ireland's National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 8. A master's degree (level 9) in a related subject is strongly recommended, ideally with a distinction classification.
• English-language competency at Band B is essential (see: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/)
Skills and competencies (Essential & Desirable):
Essential:
1. Commitment to interdisciplinary research approaches.
2. Strong academic writing skills in the English language.
3. Excellent research and project management skills.
4. Knowledge of digital media including some experience with digital arts practice.
Desirable :
1. A master's degree in a related subject (e.g., screen studies, film studies, digital media, theatre studies or digital humanities), ideally with distinction.
2. Digital arts and/or software skills (e.g., digital media editing software; basic python programming; AI tools; game engine prototyping).
3. English language proficiency at Band C.
Application Instructions
Please click on the Apply button below for the full job description and application instructions.
Apply
Department/School/ Research Group: Department of Film, School of Creative Arts.
Location: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Reports to: Jennifer O'Meara, Associate Professor in Film Studies
Terms & Conditions: Annual stipend of 25,000 euros + EU / non-EU tuition fees for 48 months.
Closing Date: 12pm (GMT), 26th June 2026.
Post Summary
PhD-3: Audiovisual Media Experiences using the Long Room's Multimodal and Acoustic Digital Twin
Part (3 of 4) of group project: From Silence to Story: Revisiting TCD's Long Room through Acoustics and Immersive Storytelling
Core Principal investigators: Nicole Basaraba (Digital Humanities); Jennifer O'Meara (Film Studies / Creative Arts); Nils Peters (Engineering); Gareth Young (Computer Science). Supporting
Principal Investigators: Fionnuala Conway; John Kennedy; Francis Boland
Funding provided by: Trinity Doctorate Research Award (Group) 2026
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 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.
Person Specification
Minimum eligibility requirements:
• A minimum 2.1 (Upper Second Class Honours) achievement in an undergraduate degree, equivalent to Ireland's National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 8. A master's degree (level 9) in a related subject is strongly recommended, ideally with a distinction classification.
• English-language competency at Band B is essential (see: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/)
Skills and competencies (Essential & Desirable):
Essential:
1. Commitment to interdisciplinary research approaches.
2. Strong academic writing skills in the English language.
3. Excellent research and project management skills.
4. Knowledge of digital media including some experience with digital arts practice.
Desirable :
1. A master's degree in a related subject (e.g., screen studies, film studies, digital media, theatre studies or digital humanities), ideally with distinction.
2. Digital arts and/or software skills (e.g., digital media editing software; basic python programming; AI tools; game engine prototyping).
3. English language proficiency at Band C.
Application Instructions
Please click on the Apply button below for the full job description and application instructions.
Apply
