Post on 01-Jan-2017
Front cover: The Living Bridge, University of Limerick
The 350 metre long pedestrian bridge is one of the most innovative and impressive pieces of architecture on campus. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, London and built by Eiffel Construction Metallique, the bridge connects the north and south banks of the university campus.
The bridge includes four platforms, which are designed to accommodate social gatherings, informal teaching sessions, music and dance performances as well as a wide array of educational, social and cultural activities.
Photographs: Eoin Stephenson, Rumhann Howard-Hildige
Vice President’s Welcome 01
University of Limerick 03
Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 05
Faculty of Eduction & Health Sciences 13
Kemmy Business School 21Faculty of Science and Engineering 28
Research Institutes 35
Graduates 51
How to Apply 56
Contents
Vice President’s Welcome TheUniversityofLimerick(UL)isayoung,energeticandenterprisinguniversitywithaproudrecordofinnovationineducationandexcellenceinresearchandscholarship.
ULhasrecentlyundertakenastrategicreviewofitsresearchprioritiesinordertorefinethekeyareasthatreflectitscompetitiveadvantage.Thisstrategicreviewhasbeenguidedbythepromotionofaresearchethoscharacterisedbyconvergenttranslationalresearch.
Duringthepastyearourkeyresearchindicatorshaveshownstronggrowth,withincreasesinresearchapplications,researchincome,postgraduatenumbersandcommercialisationactivitiescomplementingthestronggainsinresearchoutputs.
ULoffersawiderangeofresearchopportunitiesatmastersandPhDlevels,therebycontributingtotheadvancementofourrapidly-evolvingknowledgesocietyinthetwenty-firstcentury.
Researchprojectsattheuniversity,whichincludeworkoncombatingthespreadofMRSAinhospitals,streamliningtheproductionofmedicinesbythepharmaceuticalindustryinIreland,theproductionofrevolutionaryvasculargraftsandtheuseofinformationtechnologyintheautomotiveindustrytocombatexhaustemissions,havesecuredbothgovernmentandindustryresearchcontractsinexcessof€40million.
ULhasstronglinkswithindustryfromundergraduatetopostdoctorallevel.TheuniversityrunsoneofthelargestCooperativeEducationprogrammesinEurope(undergraduateinternship),andwehaverecentlycelebratedthesuccessesofcampuscompaniesPowervationLtd.andStokesBioLtd.Theemploymentrateofourgraduateshasalwaysbeenexceptional.Infact,our2008figuresshowthatover83%ofULpostgraduateswereemployedfollowinggraduation.
IhopethisbrochurewillgiveyouanoverviewoftheexcitingopportunitiesopentograduatestudentsatULandwillencourageyoutoinvestigatefurther.
Professor Brian FitzgeraldVicePresidentResearch
UniVersity of limerickTheUniversityofLimerickisanindependent,internationallyfocuseduniversitywithover11,000studentsand1,313membersofstaff.ULoffers73undergraduateprogrammesandover96taughtpostgraduateprogrammesacrossfourfaculties.Ourpostgraduateresearchstudentsbenefitfromtheexperienceofinternationalresearchersandtheavailabilityofstate-of-the-artequipmentatourresearchinstitutesandcentres.
Arts, Humanities & Social SciencesEducation & Health SciencesKemmy Business SchoolScience & Engineering
research KeyresearchareasatULinclude:
• MaterialsandSurfaceScience• Information&CommunicationTechnologies• BioEngineering&Biosciences• EnergyandSustainableEnvironment• AppliedMathematics• StudyofKnowledgeinSociety
OtherareasunderconsiderationincludeWork,EmploymentandPublicPolicy;FoodandHealth,PhysicalActivityandSport.
Wehavefourinternationallyrecognisedresearchinstitutesacrosstheuniversity.Thefourinstitutesare:
• Materials&SurfaceScienceInstitute(MSSI)• StokesInstitute• Lero–IrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchCentre• InstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)
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Achievements
Overthelast12monthswehaveseenexcitingnewdevelopmentsinourresearchinstitutesandcentres,asfollows:
• TheSolidStatePharmaceuticalClusterinMSSIhasbeenawardedalmost€7millionundertheSFIStrategicResearchClusterprogramme.
• MSSIsecureda€5milliontechnologyresearchcontractunderEUFrameworkProgramme7.TheaimoftheresearchistosignificantlyreduceMRSAinfectionratesinhospitalsacrosstheworld.
• Lero,theIrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchCentre,continuestodeveloptechnologiesforpotentialcommercialexploitationintheIrishsoftwaresector.
• Over800postgraduatestudentspursuedeitherresearchmastersordoctoralprogrammesinAY2008/09.
• ULhassignedalmost100formalagreementswithindustrypartnersin2008alone.ULcontinuestoleadtheuniversitysectorintermsofsuccesswithindustrypartnersintheEIInnovationPartnershipprogramme.
• Collaborationwithprivateventurecapitalhasledtothedevelopmentofanumberofhigh-qualitycampuscompanies,includingPowervationLtd.,CrescentDiagnosticsLtd.,CauwillTechnologiesLtd.andStokesBioLtd.
Arts, HUmAnities & sociAl sciencesWithnearly150researchstudentsenrolled,theFacultyofArts,Humanities&SocialSciences(AHSS)isenrichedbyavigorousandlivelypostgraduatecommunity.Fundingof€2.4millionfromtheProgrammeforResearchinThird-LevelInstitutionsCycle4(PRTLI4)hasopenedupexcitingpossibilitiesforPhDstudentsandpostdoctoralresearchers.NewlydevelopedstructuredPhDsprovideopportunitiesforstudentstodevelopresearchskillsthroughacombinationofcourseworkandthesisinathematicareasuchasgender,cultureandidentity,socialscienceorappliedlanguagestudies.
EachdisciplinewithintheFacultyofAHSShasarangeofresearchstrengths.Manyresearchersworkininterdisciplinarygroups.TheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)beganlifeasamajorcentreforcollaborativeresearchwithinthefacultyandhasprogressedtobecomingacross-facultyinstituteprovidingarangeofresearchsupportservicesforresearchersinthehumanitiesandsocialsciencesacrosstheuniversity.
MuchoftheresearchoutputoftheDepartmentofHistoryhasemphasiseddifferentaspectsofearlymodernandeighteenth-centuryIrishhistory,includingwarfare,intellectuallife,socialchangeandbiography.Otherwell-establishedresearchareaswithinthedepartmentincludetheWeimarRepublicandNaziGermany,IrishdiplomaticrelationswiththeUnitedStates,historyoffamily,arthistoryandcontemporaryhistory.
SeveralresearchersintheSchoolofLanguages,Literature,CultureandCommunicationshareeighteenth-centuryinterestswiththeDepartmentofHistoryandhelpconstituteaneighteenth-centurystudiesresearchgroup,whichfocusesonthedevelopmentofFrenchthought.ProfessorGeraldineSheridan’sworkonVoltaireisillustrative.AclusterofresearchershaveaddressedtheexperiencesofGermanexilesinIreland.IntheCentreforAppliedLanguageStudiesledbyProfessorAngelaChambers,researchershaveundertakeninternationallyauthoritativeworkonlanguagecorpora-baseddiscourseanalysis.Women’swriting,especiallyinIreland,andIrishsocio-linguisticsrepresentothermajorresearchfociwithintheschool.
Sentencing,theevolutionofIrishtortlawandtheimpactofEuropeanUnionlawinIreland,aswellaswiderconcernswithhumanrightsandconstitutionallaw,formpartoftheresearchprogrammeintheSchoolofLaw.ProfessorDermotWalshhasjustcompletedanIrishResearchCouncilfortheHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS)
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fellowshipinwhichheexaminedpolicereformintheIrishRepublicandNorthernIreland.
IntheDepartmentofPolitics&PublicAdministration,researchersembraceadiverserangeoffieldsbothempiricallyandmethodologically.Withastrongcombinationofnationallyandinternationallyrenownedspecialistsinpost-Sovietpolitics,SouthernAfricanpolitics,LatinAmericanpolitics,internationalpoliticaleconomy,contemporaryEuropeanandEUpolitics,Irishpoliticsandpublicpolicy,internationalrelationstheory,feministanalysis,criticaltheory,publicadministrationandgovernance,thedepartmentretainsastrongnationalandinternationalfocusinpoliticalstudies.ThedepartmentaccommodatestheCentreforPeaceandDevelopmentStudies.Initspostgraduateresearch,thedepartmentemphasisesmethodologicaltrainingincomparativepolitics,qualitativeresearchandquantitativeanalysis.
TheDepartmentofSociologyhaslongbeencommittedtoacriticalengagementaroundwhatbroadlyconstitutesthebasisofoursocialmembership,whethergendered,classedorlinkedtocoreissuesofhealth,themedia,migration,educationorglobalisation.Thedepartmenthasastrongcommitmenttoandexpertiseinquantitativeandqualitativeteachingresearchmethods.Women’sStudiesisbasedintheDepartmentofSociology.However,theresearchgroupisinterdisciplinaryanditsoutputhasclusteredaroundseveralthemes,including‘Womenandglobalbelonging’and‘Gender,memoryandmodernity’.TheFacultyofAHSSincludesseveralinterdisciplinaryresearchprogrammes.Onesuchprogramme,theRalahineCentreforUtopianStudies,hasanestablishedrecordofdistinctiveworkonutopianthought,literaturesandcommunities.ThecentrewasfoundedbyProfessorTomMoylanandiscurrentlyunderthedirectionofDrJoachimFischerandDrLukeAshworth.
new and Growing AreasEmergingresearchfieldsinwhichgroupsofresearchersarebeginningtogenerateimportantworkincludemodernSpanishliterature,developmentstudies,masculinitiesandattitudestohealthissuesthatarerelatedtolifestyleandlifecycles.InterdisciplinaryresearchacrossarangeofuniversitieswithinIrelandandabroadarestrengtheningandpromotingtheprofileofAHSS.
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fundingAswellasPRTLI,anothermajorsourceofcollaborativeresearchfundingwithintheFacultyofAHSSisAtlanticPhilanthropies,whichhassupportedPhDsandpostdoctoralresearchersinWomen’sStudies.IrishAidhasrecentlyfundedanetworkingprojectonsocialpartnershipsinsustainabledevelopment.IrishAidhasalsodonatedlibraryresourcestosupportresearchandteachingindevelopmentstudiesatUL.OthermajorfundersofindividualresearchersandresearchgroupsincludeCombatPoverty,theHealthServiceExecutive(HSE)andarangeofgovernmentdepartments.TheFacultyofAHSShasagoodtrackrecordinattainingIRCHSSscholarshipstosupportdoctoralandpostdoctoralresearch.
Inexcessof100PhDcandidatesareregisteredwiththeFacultyofAHSS.Adedicatedworkingareaandarangeofseminarsandtrainingfacilities,includingproposaldevelopmentworkshops,helpfosterasenseofintellectualcommunityamongstpostgraduates.
Onthewhole,PhDworkisundertakenbyindividualscholars.Withineachdepartment,however,clustersofstudentsworkwithincertainfields,therebyenablingthemtoshareexperiencesandinsights.Suchdisciplineclustersinclude:
Knowledge Interfaces at ISKS:
• Education,technologyandlanguage • Workmobilityintheknowledgeeconomy • TheIrishdevelopmentalstate • Mediaandmigration • Health,lifestyleandpolicy
History:
• Twentieth-centuryGermany • Twentieth-centuryIrishrepublicanism
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Language and Cultural Studies:
• ExilesandimmigrantsinIreland • Irishtravelwriting • Literatureandmemoryinpost-FrancoSpain • Languageteachingandacquisition • Appliedlanguagestudies • Irishsocio-linguistics
Law:
• IrishhumanrightsPoliticsandPublicAdministration: • Peacekeepingandpeacemaking • Developmentanddemocracy • Foreignaid • Europeansecurity • Internationalorganisations • EuropeanUnion • Post-Sovietpolitics • SocialpartnershipinIreland • TheIrishstate • Localgovernment
Sociology:
• Socialexclusion • Genderandinequality • Healthandillness • Researchmethods
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MynameisStephenRyanandI’minmysecondyearofmyresearchinhistory.IfirstcametoULoverfiveyearsagotostudyhistory,politicsandsocialstudiesandmajoredinhistory.IenjoyedtheresearchaspectofmyfinalyearprojectimmenselyandoptedtoreturntoULtodoaresearchmastersinhistory,whichIamcurrentlyworkingon.
Thefacilitiesthatareavailabletomeasaresearchstudentarefantastic.IworkfrommydeskinthepostgraduateresearchareaandhavemyownPCaswellasaccesstoprintingandphotocopyingfacilities.Thelibrarystaffandfacilitiesareexcellent,andanybooksIneedaregenerallymadeavailabletomeeitherthroughthelibrary’sowncatalogueorthroughinter-libraryloans.Inmyopinion,beingaresearchstudentcanbeaveryliberatingexperience.Icanworkatmyownpace,andIhavelearnedtobecomemoreself-motivated.TheDepartmentofHistoryandmysupervisorallowmetotakeagooddegreeofcontrolovermyownworkandhelpmeineverypossiblewaytheycan.
Beingaresearchstudentisveryrewardingbutisalsoveryhardwork.Havingsaidthat,studybyresearchisundoubtedlytherightcourseformetohavetaken.
stePHen ryAn / A Postgraduate’s experience
“ “
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Professor AnGelA cHAmbers
AngelaChambersisProfessorofAppliedLanguagesandDirectoroftheCentreforAppliedLanguageStudiesattheUniversityofLimerickandamemberoftheIrishResearchCouncilfortheHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS).Hercurrentresearchfocusesonsecondlanguageacquisition,inparticularontheuseofcorpusdatabylanguagelearners.Shehasco-editedanumberofbooksandpublishedseveralarticlesonaspectsoflanguagelearning,particularlyrelatingtocorpora.
ProfessorChambersiscurrentlyprincipalinvestigatoroftheKnowledgeInterfacesProject,forwhichtheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)wasawardedfundingof€2.5millionin2007undertheHEA’sProgrammeforResearchinThird-LevelInstitutionsCycle4(PRTLI4).ThisprojectispartoftheIrishSocialSciencesPlatform,whichbringstogethereightinstitutionsand19disciplines.InISKS,theprojectfunds12PhDsandthreepostdoctoralresearchfellowsandinvestigatesareassuchaslanguageandcommunication,thesociologyofhealth,andtheinteractionbetweentechnologicalchangeandsocial,culturalandpoliticallife.AftercompletingherBA(FrenchandGerman)andPhDatQueen’sUniversityBelfast,ProfessorChambersworkedintheuniversitiesofBordeauxandUlster.ShejoinedULasseniorlecturerinFrenchin1990andwasappointedtohercurrentpostin2002.In1998–1999,shewasassociateprofessorintheUniversitédeLilleIII,France.SheiscurrentlyamemberoftheExecutiveCommitteeoftheEuropeanAssociationforComputer-assistedLanguageLearning,whichhasitsheadquartersintheUniversityofLimerick,andamemberoftheEditorialBoardoftheassociation’sjournal,ReCALL,publishedbyCambridgeUniversityPress.In1998,ProfessorChamberswasawardedthehonourofChevalierdansl’OrdredesPalmesAcadémiques,aFrenchgovernmenthonourawardedforservicestotheFrenchlanguageandtoeducation.
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the irish World Academy of music & dance
TheIrishWorldAcademyofMusic&Dancewasestablishedin1994byProfessorMícheálÓSúilleabháin,whoseownresearchinterestsestablishedtheAcademyastheinternationalleaderinIrishmusicresearch.TheAcademyhasgraduated18researchstudentssince1994,sixofwhomcurrentlyheaduptraditionalartsprogrammesinotherIrishhighereducationinstitutes.
ResearchattheIrishWorldAcademyencompassesawiderangeofareasfromethnomusicologytomusicandhealth.Someofthekeyareasinclude:
• Ethnomusicologyandethnochoreology,includingaspecialistinterestintheglobalisationoftraditionalmusicwithparticularreferencetoEast-West/North-SouthEuropeannationalandregionalinteractionsandtransnationalengagementswithothertraditionalidiomsfromaroundtheworld.
• DanceResearchForumIreland,establishedbyDrCatherineFoleyin2003.DanceResearchForumIrelandisanon-profit,international,inclusiveandinterdisciplinarysocietyforthepromotion,supportanddevelopmentofdanceresearchandpracticeinIrelandandfurtherafield.In2009,theArtsCouncilawardedseedfundingof€140,000towardstheestablishmentofthenationaldancearchiveattheULGlucksmanLibrary.
• TheMusicandHealthResearchGroup,establishedin2009.Currentresearchinterestsincludemusicinhealthcare,musicandlifespandevelopmentandmusic-assistedactivityforpeoplewithdisabilityorrecoveringfrominjury/illness.
• Communitymusic• StructuredPhDprogrammeinArtsPractice• Ritualsongtraditions
ResearchattheIrishWorldAcademyiscontextualisedbyweeklypostgraduateseminars,whichprovideopportunitiesforcross-disciplinarysharingaswellasperformancesandvisitsfromartistsinresidence.
edUcAtion & HeAltH sciencesTheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciences(EHS)wascreatedinJanuary2008aspartofasubstantiveacademicrestructuringattheUniversityofLimerick.Departmentsinclude
• Education&ProfessionalStudies(EPS)• PhysicalEducation&SportSciences(PESS)• Psychology(Psych)• Nursing&Midwifery(N&M)• OccupationalTherapy(OT)• Physiotherapy(PT)• Speech&LanguageTherapy(SLT)• GraduateEntryMedicalSchool(GEMS)
TheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciencesboastsavibrantresearchcommunity.Research,alongsideteaching,isacoreactivity.Themultidisciplinarystructureandexpertiseofthefacultyprovideresearchagendasaroundactivemanagementoflifelongageing,biomedicalsciences,clinicaltherapies,education,food&health,healthsciences,physicalactivity,sportandsportsciences,professionalpreparationanddevelopment,socialissuesandpoliticalidentity–allareaswherenationalchallengesexistatthistime.
Therearecurrently58full-timeand32part-timeresearchstudentsintheFacultyofEHS.EHSprovidesanumberofhigh-qualitytaughtpostgraduateprogrammes,whicharecentraltoincreasingtheresearchcapacityofthefaculty.Ourpostgraduatestudentsaremembersofawiderresearchcommunity–involvingresearch-activeacademicstaffandresearchspecialists–withinthefaculty.ResearchinterestsandproductivityarereflectedintheincreasednumberofEHS-housedresearchcentres,unitsandgroupsthatarenationalresearchleadersintheirfield.
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ResearchclustersincludingresearchcentreswithinEHSinclude:
• PEPAYS–PhysicalEducation,PhysicalActivityandYouthSportResearchCentre(PESS)• CentrefortheActiveManagementofLifelongAgeing(CAMLA)(GEMS)• CentreforPre-HospitalResearch(GEMS)• CentreforSocialIssuesResearch(Psych)• ResearchCentreforEducationandProfessionalPractice(EPS)• BiomechanicsResearchUnit(PESS)• CurriculumEvaluationandPolicyResearchUnit(EPS)• Ubuntu;theTeacherEducationforSustainableDevelopmentNetwork;andtheIrishRegionalCentreofExpertiseinEducationforSustainableDevelopment(EPS)
• LimerickHuboftheNationalPhysiotherapyResearchNetwork(PT)• AppliedBiostatisticsConsultingCentre(GEMS)• HumanSciencesResearchUnit(PESS)• BiomedicalIndustryInitiative2008(GEMS)
departmental interests
Education & Professional Studies
TheDepartmentofEducation&ProfessionalStudieswelcomesapplicationsforresearchinawiderangeoffieldswithineducationatbothprimaryandsecondlevel.Currentresearchinterestsincludeinitialteachereducation,actionresearchineducation,ICTineducation,teachereducationforsustainabledevelopment,schoolmanagementandself-evaluation,curriculumandassessmentinsecond-leveleducation,genderissuesineducation,curriculumrenewalandimplementation,moralandemotionaldevelopment,clinicalandeducationalpsychology,healthpromotion,andguidanceandcounsellinginsecond-leveleducation.ThenewResearchCentreforEducationandProfessionalPractice(RCEPP)willbeakeyinfrastructureinthesupportofresearchinterestsacrosstheuniversityinteachingandlearning.
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Graduate Entry Medical School
TheGraduateEntryMedicalSchool(GEMS)setuptheCentrefortheActiveManagementofLifelongAgeing(CAMLA)in2007withavisionto“engageinrelevantmedicalresearch,dedicatedtoimprovinghealthinsociety”.CAMLA’sinitialresearchfocusisonthevariousaspectsofageingand,particularly,onstrategiestooptimisehealthinoldage.Initsshortlifetodate,CAMLAhasbroughttogetheralargenumberofhithertodisparateindividualsandgroupstodevelopcommonresearchagendas.BecausetheGEMSsitsintheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciences,whichincludesClinicalTherapies(Physiotherapy,OccupationalTherapyandSpeech&LanguageTherapy),Education&ProfessionalStudies,Nursing&Midwifery,PhysicalEducation&SportSciencesandPsychology,itisuniquelyplacedandverykeentocollaborateininterdisciplinaryclinical,educationalandresearchinitiatives.
Nursing & Midwifery
TheDepartmentofNursing&Midwiferyoffersarangeofvariedandexcitingresearchopportunitiestoprospectivepostgraduatestudents.Thedepartment’sresearchfocusoverthepastfiveyearsmirrorsvariousnicheareasofresearchinterestacrossthevariousdisciplinesofgeneral,intellectualdisabilityandmentalhealthnursingandmidwifery.ProspectivepostgraduatestudentsattheDepartmentofNursing&Midwiferycanregisterforlevel9specialistandadvancedpracticegraduatediploma/MScprogrammesandforalevel9non-specialistgraduatediploma/MScprogrammeinnursingandmidwifery.PostgraduatemastersprogrammesbyresearchandPhDarealsoonoffer.TheannualPatriciaConnorGormanGraduateScholarshipisawardedbythedepartmenttoencourageandsupportULnursinggraduatestoengageinresearchactivities.
Occupational Therapy
TheDepartmentofOccupationalTherapyiscommittedtoengaginginrelevantoccupation-focusedresearchdedicatedtoimprovinghealthandwellbeinginsociety.Departmentstaffandresearchersparticipateinanumberofnationalandinternationalresearchgroupswithintheuniversity.Awiderangeofexpertiseinclinicalandhealthserviceresearchexistswithinthedepartment.Activeresearchareasincludeoccupationalscience,researchwithparticulargroups(peoplewithmentalhealthdifficulties,peoplewithdementia,wheelchairusers),healthandsocialcareservicedeliveryandeducationalresearch.
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Physical Education & Sport Sciences
TheDepartmentofPhysicalEducation&SportSciences(PESS)hasagrowingresearchprogrammeintheareasofbiomechanics,exercisephysiology,exercisebiochemistry,physicalactivityandhealth,physicaleducationandprofessionaldevelopment,motorskills,sportspsychologyandsportscoaching.ThedepartmentcurrentlyhoststhePhysicalEducation,PhysicalActivityandYouthSportResearchCentre(PEPAYS),theBiomechanicsResearchUnitandtheHumanSciencesResearchUnit.
Physiotherapy
ResearchinterestswithintheDepartmentofPhysiotherapyincludeshoulderdysfunction,pain,outcomemeasures,cardiacandpulmonaryrehabilitation,clinicalplacements,neurologicalrehabilitation(includingphysiotherapyandphysicalactivityprogrammesforpeoplewithmultiplesclerosisandtheuseoftechnologyinneurorehabilitation),lowbackpain,motorcontrol,motionanalysisandsportsinjuries(includinginjuryprevention),flexibility,rheumatology,fallsintheelderly,thedevelopmentprofileofsix-to-eight-year-oldchildreninruralIrelandandtheeffectofaschool-basedmotorskillstrainingprogramme.
Psychology
TheDepartmentofPsychologyatUniversityofLimerickisarecentadditiontothecampus.Thisnewandvibrantdepartmentfocusesexplicitlyonsocialpsychology,whichmakesthedepartmentuniqueinIreland.TheDepartmentofPsychologyiscurrentlyaimingtoconsolidateitsexcellentresearchprofileinareasofsocialpsychologysuchassocialidentity,socialdevelopment,minority/majorityrelations,prejudice,socialexclusionandcrowdbehaviour.ThedepartmentledthedevelopmentofaCentreforSocialIssuesResearchtopromoteresearchonsocialissuesacrosstheuniversity.
Speech & Language Therapy
TheDepartmentofSpeechandLanguageTherapyhasexistingresearchinterestsandexpertiseinaphasia,feedingandchildhoodlanguageimpairment.Additionalresearchisunderwayinprofessionaldecisionmaking,childhoodlanguagedevelopment,multilingualism,cleftpalate,developmentalspeechdisorders,specificlanguageimpairmentandstammering.
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“ Iworkaspartofateamonthe “GettingtheBalanceRight”project–anevaluationofphysiotherapyandexerciseprogrammesforpeoplewithmultiplesclerosis(MS)inIreland.Iwentstraightfrommydegreeinphysiotherapytomypostgraduatestudies.Mydesiretocontributetoevidence-basedpracticeinaclinicallyrelevantareaandtomakeapositivedifferencetopeople’sliveswerethebiggestdrivingforcesinmyquesttopursueresearchinthistopic.
TodateIhavecompletedaliteraturereview,submittedalargenumberofethicsproposals,carriedoutapilotstudyandcollecteddataforthemainstudy.Asagroupwehavestartedtoenterdataforinitialandfollow-upassessments.Themostchallenging–andprobablymostimportant–partofthefirstyearwasconductingtheliteraturereviewtoidentifythegapinresearchandthemostappropriateoutcomemeasures.Thiswasalengthyandoftenisolatingprocess.However,itpavedthewayforanexcitingyear.HighlightsofthefirstyearincludedgivingoralpresentationsatMSconferencesinLeedsandCanadaandattheannualandstudentconferencesoftheIrishSocietyofCharteredPhysiotherapists(ISCP).Anadditionalhighlightwasthedeliveryoftrainingdaysbytheprojectteamtophysiotherapistsonthenationalimplementationofexerciseprogrammesforourrandomisedcontrolledtrial.
TheprojectteamhasbeenaskedtowritearticlesabouttheroleofcharteredphysiotherapistsintherehabilitationofpeoplewithMS.Seeingourhardworkinprintisoneofthemoreenjoyableaspectsofresearch.Feedbacktotheprojecttodatehasbeenverypositiveandindicatesthatourresearchismakingasignificantdifferenceinpeople’sfunctionandqualityoflife.MycurrentpostgraduateworkhasbeenkindlysponsoredbytheIrishResearchCouncilforScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET)andisbeingcarriedoutinconjunctionwithMultipleSclerosisIreland.
mAriA GArrett / A Postgraduate’s experience
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“WilliAm mccormAck / A Postgraduate’s experience
“ Igraduatedin2006withaBScinSportsandExerciseScience(first classhonours)fromtheUniversityofLimerick.FollowingthisIspentsixmonthsworkingasaresearchassistanttoProfessorPhilJakemanintheHumanScienceResearchUnit(HSRU),DepartmentofPhysicalEducation&SportSciences(PESS).DuringthistimeIsuccessfullyappliedtotheEmbarkInitiativePostgraduateResearchScholarshipSchemeoperatedbytheIrishResearchCouncilforScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET).IcommencedmypostgraduateresearchinOct2007attheHSRUunderthedirectionofProfessorJakeman.
Myresearchinterestsincludenutrientregulationofgrowthfactorresponseinhumanskeletalmuscle.Utilisingthemicrodialysistechniqueforthesamplingofinterstitialfluid,thisprojectseekstoinvestigatetheinter-cellularresponsetotheinteractionofaminoacidsandgrowthfactorsinhumanskeletalmusclefollowingmechanicalloading.Theresearchchallengesthehypothesisthatskeletalmuscleproteinsynthesisisaugmentedbyessentialaminoacidsviaanup-regulationofthedifferentialexpressionofIGFsinresponsetomechanicalloading.
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ProfessorBillyO’ConnorjoinedtheGraduateEntryMedicalSchoolasHeadofTeachingandResearchinPhysiologyin2008.Aleadingfigureinneuroscienceresearch,ProfessorO’Connorhas25years’experienceinresearchandteaching.Hehasauthoredover100fulloriginalpapers,fivereviews,threebookchapters,oneeditorialand288conferenceproceedingsabstracts.Hehasalsoeditedonebook–MonitoringMoleculesinNeuroscience(2001)–andhassecuredover€3millioninresearchfundingsince1996.ProfessorO’ConnorgraduatedwithaBScinBiochemistry(1981)andaPhDinPharmacology(1986)fromNUIGalway.LeavingIrelandin1987,heworkedasapostdoctoralresearcherinneuroscienceattheDepartmentofPhysiologyandPharmacologyattheKarolinskaInstitute,Stockholm,whereheprogressedtothepositionofassociateprofessor.HereturnedtoIrelandin1995,takingupacollegelecturerpostintheDepartmentofHumanAnatomyandPhysiologyinUCD.
HerosetothepositionofHeadofNeuroscienceintheConwayInstitute,whereheachievedanSFIInvestigatorawardin2004.In2000ProfessorO’ConnorwasawardedtheConwaySilverMedalforAchievementintheBiosciencesandin2005theSCRIPAwardforbestpartnershipalliancewithWyethforcooperativeworkonbrainillnesstreatments.Thechallengeofdevelopingaworld-classcentreofexcellenceintranslationalmedicineandtheprospectofteachingtalentedandmotivatedgraduatestudentsenticedProfessorO’ConnortohiscurrentpositionwiththeGraduateEntryMedicalSchool.HeisDirectoroftheTranslationalMedicineandTherapeuticsLaboratoryintheGMS,whichworksindependentlytodevelopaclinicalmicrodialysisinitiativeoncampusandinthelocalteachinghospitals.ProfessorO’ConnoriscurrentlyworkingonajointresearchprojectwithProfessorPhilJakeman(PESS),theaimofwhichistoinvestigatechangesinmetabolisminthelegmusclesofhealthyadultsduringmusclecontraction.
Professor billy o’connor
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kemmy bUsiness scHoolTheKemmyBusinessSchool(KBS)isadynamicandinnovativebusinessschoolwithareputationforfirst-classeducationandleadingresearch.TheKBShostsover110facultyandstaffandalmost3,000students(ofwhom480arepostgraduates).
TheGraduateCentreofBusinessissituatedintheFoundationBuildingatUL.TheGraduateCentrewasestablishedin1993toensurethatstudentswhowereengagedinpostgraduateresearchhada‘home’andanidentityandtoprovidetheservicesandinfrastructurenecessaryfortheirstudies.TheGraduateCentrecurrentlyhostsmorethan80postgraduatestudentspursuingMBSandPhDdegreesacrossarangeofbusinessdisciplines.
KBSresearchfundingincludessignificantawardsfromdomesticandinternationallycompetitivefundingsourcessuchastheIrishResearchCouncilforHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS),EUFrameworkProgramme7andtheEuropeanFoundationforEntrepreneurshipResearch(EFER).MembersoftheKBSareinvolvedincollaborationswithinUL,withpartnersatotheruniversitiesworldwideandwithgovernmentagencies,professionalorganisationsandindustrystakeholdersbothinIrelandandoverseas.TheKBScurrentlyparticipatesinanumberofsuccessfulresearchnetworkssuchasCRANET(Cranfield),EuropeanNetworkonIndustrialPolicy(EUNIP),Marketinginthe21stCentury(Aston)andCrossCulturalManagement(IESE,Barcelona).
research themes of the kbs
TheresearchinterestsofKBSfacultycanbecategorisedintothefollowingfourthemes:
• Work,knowledgeandemployment(themeleaders:ProfessorPatrickGunnigleandDr SiobhanTiernan)• Theserviceseconomyandtourism(themeleaders:ProfessorJimDeeganandDrEoin Reeves)• Entrepreneurship,innovationandmarketing(themeleaders:DrNaomiBirdthistleand DrLisaO’Malley)• Publicpolicy,enterprise,governanceandsustainability(themeleaders:DrHelena LenihanandDrPhilipO’Regan)
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Work, Knowledge and Employment
Thecoreresearchchallengeunderthisthemeistoinvestigatehowdevelopedeconomies,particularlyIreland,canstrikeabalancebetweeneconomicandsocialperformanceinpromoting‘bestpractice’thatenhancescompetitivenessandproductivitywhileconcurrentlyembracinggoodemploymentstandardsandenhancinghumancapitalandpartnershipatwork.Ireland’sstatusasasmallopeneconomylendsitselftothecomparativeanalysisofbothemploymentrelationsandpractice.
Buildingonalong-establishedrecordofachievementinworkforcemanagementresearchandteachingatUL,thisresearchthemefocusesonworkplacelearning,humanresourcedevelopmentandintellectualcapital;workdesign,workplacerelationsandemployeewellbeing;embeddingforeigndirectinvestment;strategichumanresourcemanagementandbusinessperformance;andthepoliticaleconomyofworkplacerelationsandlabourmarkets.
The Services Economy and Tourism
Therationalefortheestablishmentofthisresearchthemeemergesfromthechangingnatureofconsumptionandproductioninmodernsocieties.Atpresent,overtwo-thirdsofthoseemployedinEuropeworkinservices(bothprivateandpublic)andbetween60and70percentofGrossValueAddedinmostEuropeanstatescanbeattributedtoservices.Thebroadareasforresearchincludetransport,tourismandtravel,insurance,financialservices,educationalservices,legalservices,businessandpublicservices.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Marketing
Ireland’sgoalistodevelopanindigenousinnovation-driveneconomy.Toachievethis,innovative,entrepreneurialandmarketing-relatedskillsandattitudesneedtobenurtured.TheKBScontributestothisagendathroughitsresearchonsmall-andmedium-sizedenterprises.Specificresearchfociincludeinternationalisation,familybusinesses,marketingstrategy,advertisingandconsumerresearch,newproductdevelopment,brandingandrelationshipmarketing.Theinterfacebetweenentrepreneurshipandpedagogyandbetweenmarketingandinnovationhasalsoattractedsignificantresearchattention.Scholarsareopentonewresearchagendas,andemergingresearchiscurrentlyongoinginsocial,femaleandethnicentrepreneurship,crisismanagement,high-growthfirms,metricsforinnovationandmarketing.
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Public Policy, Enterprise, Governance and Sustainability
Withinthistheme,thepublicpolicyfocusconcernsitselfwithindustrialandeconomicdevelopmentissuesandpolicy,thesurvivalandgrowthoffirmsandtherolethatpublicpolicy(amongstotherfactors)playsinthisregard.Thereisalsoaconcernwithpublicpolicyevaluation,which,todate,hasbeenprimarilyappliedtotheevaluationofindustrialandenterprisepolicies.Thesearecomplementedbyongoingresearchintothedisciplinaryanddistributiveconsequencesoftaxationpolicy.Thefocusonenterpriseiskeytothethemegiventhatmuchoftheresearchactivityisoperationalisedattheleveloftheenterprise.
Thefocusongovernancereflectstheemergingimportanceofmattersrelatingtoregulation,corporategovernanceandprofessionalself-regulation.Ongoingresearchactivityintheseareasembracerisk(includingpoliticalrisk)andgovernance,behaviouranddynamicsofboardsofdirectors,regulatoryandlegislativecompliance,controlmechanismsinlargeandsmallfirmsandcorporatesocialresponsibility.Emphasisonnotionsofsustainabilityreflectstheemergenceofthistopicbothasanareaofdiscreteinterestandonethatoffersinterdisciplinarypossibilities.
research centres• CentreforEntrepreneurialStudies• CentreforInformationandKnowledgeManagement• Euro-AsiaResearchCentre• InternationalCentreforSustainableEnterprises• NationalCentreforTourismPolicyStudies
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student fundingTheGraduateCentreofBusinessperiodicallyoffersresearchassistantshipsandstipendstoscholarsregisteringforpostgraduatedegreesbyresearchandthesis.TheKBSalsooffersthefollowingfull-timePhDscholarships:
• EuropeanNetworkonIndustrialPolicy(EUNIP)/ULScholarship• InternationalManagementScholarship• KBSCentreforProjectManagementScholarship• KemmyBusinessSchoolScholarship• DepartmentofAccountingandFinanceScholarship• DepartmentofEconomicsScholarship• DepartmentofPersonnelandEmploymentRelationsScholarship• DrDaveMcKevittDoctoralScholarship(DepartmentofManagementandMarketing)
Detailedinformationoneachscholarshipisavailableatwww.ul.ie/business.
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“nicolA lyncH / A Postgraduate’s experience
“ MynameisNicolaLynchandIaminthethirdyearofmyPhDinEconomics.IcompletedmyundergraduatestudiesandMBSinBusinessEconomicsatUniversityCollegeCork.IfirstcametoULasaTeachingAssistantin2002.Itwas,however,throughmyworkasaResearchAssistantthatIdevelopedmyinterestinresearch.MyresearchprojectdevelopsframeworksforevaluatingtheimpactofbusinessnetworksinIreland.InthefirstyearofmyresearchIwasawardedtheULRegistrar’sscholarshipandwassubsequentlyawardedtheIRCHSSGovernmentofIrelandResearchScholarship(October’07–present).
TheKBShasastrongresearchprofileandprovidesgreatencouragementforresearchstudents.Mysupervisor,DrHelenaLenihan,iswellknowninherfieldofresearchandprovidesgreatsupportandencouragement.Ihavehadtheopportunitytopresentmyresearchatbothnationalandinternationalconferencesandhavepublishedapaperinaninternationallypeer-reviewedjournal.Theseexperiencesaloneareimmenselyrewardingandmakeallthehardworkmorethanworthwhile.
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Professor micHAel morley
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ProfessorMichaelMorleyisProfessorofManagementandHeadoftheDepartmentofManagement&MarketingintheKemmyBusinessSchool.AgraduateoftheUniversityofLimerick,ProfessorMorleyhasbeenacareeracademicforover16years.HisearlierappointmentsatULincludejuniorlecturer,lecturerandseniorlecturerinhumanresourcemanagement.HehasalsopreviouslyservedasHeadoftheDepartmentofPersonnel&EmploymentRelations,asAssistantDeanofResearchandasDirectoroftheGraduateCentreofBusiness.
ProfessorMorley’spublicationsrecordincludes18co-authored/co-editedbooks,some50bookchaptersandmorethan70refereedjournalarticlesinpublicationssuchastheJournalofWorldBusiness,AdvancesinInternationalManagement,InternationalStudiesofManagement&Organization,ManagementDecision,InternationalJournalofHumanResourceManagement,HumanResourceManagementJournal,HumanResourceManagementReviewandCrossCulturalManagement.Collaboratingwithanetworkof40businessschoolsthroughouttheworld,ProfessorMorleycontinuestoengageininternational,comparativeandcross-culturalstudiesofmanagement,leadershipandHRpractices.
ProfessorMorleyisassociateeditoroftheJournalofManagerialPsychologyandregionaleditoroftheEuropeanJournalofInternationalManagement.Inaddition,heservesontheeditorialboardsofnineotherinternationaljournals,includingInternationalJournalofCrossCulturalManagement,LeadershipandOrganizationalDevelopmentJournal,InternationalJournalofStrategicChangeManagementandInternationalJournalofEmploymentStudies.Heisthe2007–2010ElectedChairoftheIrishAcademyofManagement(IAM),theleadingprofessionalassociationformanagementresearchandeducationontheislandofIreland.
science & enGineerinGComprisingthefollowing10departments,theFacultyofScience&EngineeringisthelargestfacultyinUL.
• Architecture• Chemical&EnvironmentalSciences• ComputerScience&InformationSystems• Electronic&ComputerEngineering• LifeSciences• Manufacturing&OperationsEngineering• MaterialsScience&Technology• Mathematics&Statistics• Mechanical&AeronauticalEngineering• Physics
Thefaculty’sdepartmentscurrentlydelivertaughtandresearchpostgraduateprogrammestoinexcessof1,000registeredpostgraduates,500ofwhomarepursuingdoctorateprogrammes.Theprimaryfocusisonincreasingthequalityandquantityofpostgraduatestudentsandresearchoutputs,includingPhDsandpublications.
Themainresearchobjectiveofthefacultyistoprovidearesearch-drivenenvironmentthatwillundertakebothfundamentalandappliedresearch.Promotingthepublicationofresults,attractingnationalandinternationalresearchersanddevelopingfurthercollaborativelinkswithindustryarealsokeypriorities.
Theresearchinterestsofthefacultycoverawidespectrumofdisciplinesundertheumbrellaofthreestrategicresearchinstitutes–Materials&SurfaceScience(MSSI),StokesInstituteandtheIrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchInstitute(Lero)–andalargenumberofresearchcentres,includingMACSI(MathematicsApplicationsConsortiumforScienceandIndustry).Morerecently,amajoremphasishasbeenplacedonenergyandsustainableenvironmentresearchundertheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI).
mAcsi - mathematics Applications consortium for science and industryTheMACSIindustrialmathematicsnetworkisthefirstofitskindinIreland–anetworkofmathematicalmodellersandscientificcomputationalanalystswhoseobjectivesinclude:
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• Producingworld-classresearchandresearchtraininginmathematicalmodelling• Enablingindustrialcompaniestoimprovetheirproductsandprocessesthroughthe applicationofcutting-edgemathematicalmodellingtechniques• Providinganoutreachprogrammetoschoolstudentstoraisetheirawarenessofthe roleofmathematicsinmodernindustry
MACSIistheinitiationofanewerainIrishmathematics,whereappliedmathematiciansunderpindevelopmentsinthephysical,biologicalandsocialsciences.ThegroupissupportedbythelargestsinglegranteverawardedtomathematicsinIreland(€4.34millionfromtheSFIMathematicsInitiative).
charles Parsons initiativeTheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI)hasapproximately70researchersactiveintheareaofenergyandsustainableenvironmentandhasearnedmorethan€20millioninexternalresearchfundingsince2004.RepresentingamergerofsixresearchcentresatUL,CPIfocusesonresearchingenvironmentandsustainableformsofenergyacrosstheareasofelectrochemistry;physics;electronic,mechanicalandaeronauticalengineering;computerscience;mathematicsandstatistics;andaccountingandfinance.
CPIisconsideredtobealeadingplayerinEuropeintheareaofbiorefiningandhasmadesignificantprogressinthemodellingofnationalenergysystems.ThesethemesmatchthekeystrengthsofCPIwiththeneedsoftomorrow,i.e.,theproductionoffuelsandplatformchemicalsfrombiomass;storagewhichiswidelyconsideredthekeyenablingtechnologyforlarge-scalerenewableelectricitysystems;andintegratedmodellingofelectricity,heatandtransporttoenableinformeddecisionsontheprimaryscientificandengineeringchallengesofourtime.
Currentresearchactivitiesinclude:• Energygenerationusingrenewablenaturalresources(wind,solar,wave,ocean current,hydro)• Bio-fuelsandadvancedconversion• Energyconservation,storage,energyefficiency• Environmentalsensors;thermal,emissions,gases,radiation,distributedenvironment monitoring• Sustainabilityandenergy-relatedenvironmentalconsiderations• Life-cycleengineering
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“Aoife finnerAn / A Postgraduate’s experience
IcompletedaBEnginManagementEngineeringwithFrenchatNUI Galway.Ergonomicsformedasubstantialpartofmyundergraduatedegree,andIdecidedIwouldliketocontinuemystudiesinthisarea.IappliedtoULbecauseoftheergonomicsfacilitiesoncampusandtheavailabilityoffunding.Iwasspecificallyinterestedinaprojectintheareaofproductivityandergonomics.
Musculoskeletaldisorders(MSDs),particularlythoseoftheupperlimb,arehighlyprevalentinindustry.ImplicationsofMSDsforindustryinclude
costandlostworkdays.MSDsalsohaveimplicationsforproductivity,notonlybecauseoflostworkdaysbutbecauseofthefunctionalincapacityofoperatorsasaresultofpainordiscomfort.MyresearchprojectinvestigatestherelationshipbetweenpainanddiscomfortresultingfromMSDsandoperatorproductivity.Itishopedthatanergonomicproductivityassessmenttoolwillbedevelopedthatwillenableanergonomisttocompleteproductivityanddiscomfortassessmentsintandem.
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“cátHál Wilson / A Postgraduate’s experience
“ IamaPhDstudentin theEnterpriseResearch CentreintheEngineeringResearchBuilding.IgraduatedfromULwithadegreeinManufacturingEngineeringin2005andamcurrentlyfinishingmyPhDresearch.IdecidedtostayonatULanddomyPhDherebecauseofthesupervisionandsupportstructuresthatwereavailableoncampus.It’salsoagreatlocationformeasit’sagoodhalfwaypointbetweenmyindustrialcontactsinCorkandtheMidlands.
IcurrentlyworkwithDrConSheahanaspartoftheEnterprisePerformanceResearchGroup,whichisstudyingenterpriseperformancemeasurementinsmallandmediumenterprises.Myresearchisfundedbyathree-yearIRCSETscholarship.IhadagoodknowledgeofmanufacturingbeforeIstartedmyPhD.Myparentsownandrunanindustrialheatingcompany–CeramicxIrelandLtd.basedinWestCork–andI’vealsoactedasacontractconsultantintheareaofproductivityimprovementwithAndonaServicesLtd.basedinLongford.
ThetypeofresearchIamdoingmeansthatmydaysarevaried.AspartofmyresearchIspendalotofmytimewithvariouson-sitecompanies.I’vealsoactedasteachingassistantforanumberofmodulesintheDepartmentofManufacturing&OperationsEngineering,andIrantheDrawingLearningCentreforthreesemesters.In2007,withfellowstudentAndrewLynch,Iranaone-dayworkshopthatbrought30companiestothecampus.Doingpostgraduateresearchgivesyouopportunitiestopublish–todateIhavepublishedsixconferencepapers,twojournalarticlesandsomearticlesforTechnologyIrelandMagazine.
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dr mArtin J. leAHy
DrMartinJ.LeahyjoinedtheUniversityofLimerickin1997asaresearchscientistwiththeDepartmentofMechanical&AeronauticalEngineering.HeiscurrentlyemployedasalecturerintheDepartmentofPhysicsandlecturesonthefollowingmodules:MedicalPhysics,MedicalInstrumentation,PhysicsforEngineers,EnergyRatings,ExperimentalPhysics,andACCircuitsandDevices.Inaddition,DrLeahy,teachesgraduatecoursesontissueopticsforphysicalandlifescientistsandchairstheinternationalBiophotonicsandImagingGraduateSummerSchool(BIGSS).
PriortocomingtoUL,DrLeahyworkedasaWellcomeTrustresearchassistantatOxfordBrookesandasresearchfellowattheDepartmentofEngineeringScienceatOxfordUniversity.Withacolleague,heestablishedOxfordOptronixLtd.inthe1990stoexploitdevelopmentsinlaser-basedbloodflowandoxygenationmeasurements,onwhichhisDPhilthesiswasbased.
DrLeahy’sresearchisalwaysappliedand,inadditiontoOxfordOptronixLtd.,hassofarledtotheestablishmentofBiomassHeatingSolutionsLtd.,MillstreamEnergyLtd.andWheelsbridgeAB.TheimplicationsofthegrowingenergycrisisanddwindlingfossilfuelreserveshavebeenrecognisedbytheUniversityofLimerickwiththeestablishmentoftheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI)onenergyandsustainableenvironment.DrLeahyiscurrentlyDirectorofCPI.CPIisIreland’slargestresearchorganisationinthisarea.
DrLeahy’sinterestinbiophotonicsislargelyintheinteractionofvisibleandinfraredlightwithhumantissues.Historically,thishasbeenmanifestedinthedevelopmentofinstrumentstomeasurebloodflow(laserDoppler)andoxygenation(spectroscopy),whichhavefoundmanyapplicationsduetotheroleofthemicrocirculationinallorgans.Morerecently,DrLeahy’sresearchgrouphasbeencollaboratingwiththeUniversityofLinköpingonthedevelopmentofasuiteofinstrumentsrelatedtotissueviabilityandskinaging.Thefirstofthese,the‘TiViimager’,isjustnowbecomingcommerciallyavailableviaWheelsbridgeAB.Itusesthetechniqueofpolarisationspectroscopyandapatentedimageanalysistechniquetoprovideanindexofredbloodcellconcentrationinthetissue.TwopostdoctoralresearchersandfourPhDstudentsareworkingonthesethemes,whicharecloselylinkedtoclinicalneed.Afurtherfivestudentsareworkingontheenergystoragetheme.
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isks - tHe institUte for tHe stUdy of knoWledGe in societyTheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)wasestablishedin2006withtheobjectiveofbuildingonUL’suniquereputationinIrelandforintegrated,interdisciplinaryarts,humanitiesandsocialsciencesresearch.ISKScurrentlyhas47associates,60PhDstudents,fourpostdoctoralfellowsandoneresearchscholar.ISKSwasawarded€2.5millioninPRTLI4forits‘KnowledgeInterfaces’project.ResearchersinISKSexamineknowledgeinsocietyinfourinterrelatedways:
• Knowledge innovation:creatingnewknowledgebybringingdifferentdisciplinesand groupstogether
• Knowledge transfer:translatingacademicknowledgetoinformpolicymakersand stakeholders
• Knowledge about society:understandingtheconstructionanddisseminationof knowledgebyandinsociety,withparticularemphasisonthecultural,political, linguistic,historicalandlegalaspectsoftheseprocesses
• Knowledge as an economic good:studyinghowknowledgeisdistributedand experiencedinanIrishandaninternationalcontext
OriginallybasedintheFacultyofArts,Humanities&SocialSciences,ISKShasbecomeacross-facultyinstituteservicingtheneedsofassociatesfromarangeofdiversedisciplinesinallfourfacultiesoftheuniversity.AssociatesaredrawnfromtheSchoolofLanguages,Literature,CultureandCommunication;theGraduateEntryMedicalSchool;thedepartmentsofSociology,Politics&PublicAdministration,History,Law,ComputerScience&InformationSystems,PhysicalEducation&SportSciences,OccupationalTherapy,Psychology,EconomicsandManagement&Marketing;andtheIrishWorldAcademyofMusicandDance.
ResearchinISKSisorganisedaroundanumberofinterfaces,orthemes.Thesearecollaborative,interdisciplinary,thematicprojects,whichreflectkeyISKSpriorities(alignedwithUL,nationalandEUpriorities);providesupportandinfrastructureforprojectsandapplications;createsynergiesacrossdifferentdisciplines,facultiesandinstitutions;andfacilitateinteractionwithpolicymakers,communities,professionals,industryandotherstakeholders.
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ThecurrentprogrammeinISKSincludesthefollowinginterfaces:
• Shapingtechnology• Understandinghealth• Changingcommunication• Governanceandcitizenship• Modellingdevelopment• Culturalcohesionanddiversity• Understandingequality
ISKSisapartnerintheIrishSocialSciencesPlatform(ISSP),whichisfundedunderPRTLI4.ISSPistheonlyall-islandplatformofintegratedsocialscienceresearchandgraduatetraining;itfocusesonthesocial,culturalandeconomictransformationsshapingIrelandinthetwenty-firstcentury.OtherpartnersincludeNUIM(leadpartner),NUIG,DCU,UCC,MIC,QUB,TCD,ITSandWIT.FormoreinformationonISSP,seewww.issplatform.ie.
ISKScurrentlyofferstwograduateeducationprogrammes(GREPS)–orstructureddoctoralprogrammes–oneinsocialsciencesandoneinappliedlanguages.Thesefour-yearintegratedprogrammesleadtotheawardofPhDandconsistofspecialisedacademicmodules,genericmodulesandresearch.Specialistmodulesareundertakeninyears1and2,mostlyinUL,butmayalsobetakenatoneofourISSPpartnerinstitutionsinIrelandorabroad,asappropriate.Thesemodulesprovidepostgraduatestudentswithspecialistcontentandmethodologicaltrainingrelevanttotheirresearchprogramme.Genericmodulesprovidepostgraduatestudentswiththeskillsnecessarytocompletetheirresearchaswellastransferableskillstopreparethemfortheirworkinglives.
FormoreinformationonISKS,seewww.ul.ie/ISKS.
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lero - tHe irisH softWAre enGineerinG reseArcH centreLerowasestablishedin2005bysoftwareengineeringresearchersfromtheUniversityofLimerick(UL–leadpartner),DublinCityUniversity(DCU),TrinityCollegeDublin(TCD)andUniversityCollegeDublin(UCD).ItwasinitiallyfundedbyScienceFoundationIreland(SFI)undertheCentreforScienceEngineeringandTechnology(CSET)programme.
Lero’smissionistodeliverworld-leadingresearchinthoseareasofsoftwareengineeringthatsupportevolvingcriticalsystems.Lero’sresearchagendaaddressesseveralcoreresearchtopicsintheevolvingcriticalsystemsfield.Thecentralresearchtopicisbuildingsoftwarethatishighlyreliableandthatretainsitsreliabilityasitevolves.LeroenhancesthequalityandcompetitivenessoftheIrishsoftwareindustrythroughsharedprojects,knowledgetransferandeducation.Lero’sresearchersdeliverinternationallyrecognisedscientificoutputs,publishinleadingjournalsandpresentatinternationalconferences
lero and industrySoftwareengineeringisanapplieddisciplineand,assuch,researchintheareamustbegroundedinpractice.Byusingresearchtomakebetterproductsinamoreeffectivemanner,companiescangaincompetitiveadvantage.However,researchiscostlyandtime-consumingandmaynotyieldusefulresults.ThisiswhereLerocomesin.Lero’sresearchersworkcloselywithIrishindustrytoidentifykeytopicsandvalidateproposedsolutions.Lerowillassistpartnercompaniesinfindingfinancialsupportforjointresearchinitiatives.
lero outreach and educationLerorunsasuccessfuleducationandoutreachprogrammethataimstomakesoftwareengineeringand,inparticular,Leroresearchvisibleandaccessibleatsecond-andthird-leveleducationinIreland.Lerohasdevelopedahighlysuccessfultransitionyear(TY)computingmodulebasedonMIT’s“Scratch”softwareincollaborationwithITTallaghtandCIOIreland.InpartnershipwiththeIrishComputerSociety,thematerialshavebeendistributedtoallsecond-levelschoolsinIreland.Formoredetails,visitwww.scratch.ie.
LerohasestablishedtheLeroGraduateSchoolinSoftwareEngineering(LGSSE),whichprovidesastructuredPhDprogramme.Inaddition,atfourth-level,theoutreachandeducationprogrammeisconcernedwithorganisingeventsandprovidingservicestopostgraduatestudentsandresearchers.Visitwww.lero.ieformoredetails.
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dr Goetz botterWeck / senior research fellow
DrGoetzBotterweckisaseniorresearchfellowatLero.HereceivedhisMScinComputerScienceandInformationSystems(“Diplom-Informatiker”)andhisPhDinComputerScienceattheUniversityofKoblenz-Landau,Germany.InMarch2007DrBotterweckjoinedLero,wherehenowheadstheprojectonmodel-drivenproductderivation.Hisresearchinterestsincludemodel-drivensoftwareengineering,userinterfaceengineeringandinformationsystemsengineering.
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LianpingChenisadoctoralresearcheratLero.HereceivedamastersdegreeinsoftwareengineeringfromNorthwesternPolytechnicalUniversity,China.DuringhispostgraduatestudiesinChina,hespentoneyearasaninternatIBMChinaResearchLab,Beijing.Hisdoctoralresearchfocusesondevelopingandevaluatingtechniquesandtoolsforarchitecturalknowledgemanagement.Lianpingisalsointerestedinimprovingtheuseofempiricalmethodsforsoftwareengineeringresearch.
liAnPinG cHen / doctoral researcher
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HeshamShokryisaPhDstudentatLero.HereceivedaBScinElectricalandComputerEngineeringfromAssiutUniversity,Egypt.Hesham’sresearchfocusesonapproachestodesigningandevaluatingdynamicsoftwarearchitecturesforembeddedsystems.BeforejoiningLero,HeshamworkedforthreeyearsasastaffsoftwareengineerwithIBM,developingsoftwaresystemsfortheautomotiveindustry.PriortojoiningIBM,hewasaresearchengineerattheAerospaceResearchCenter,agovernmentalinstituteinEgypt,wherehewasinvolvedindevelopingavionicssoftwareandsimulationtools.
HesHAm sHokry / Phd student
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mssi - mAteriAls & sUrfAce science institUteTheMaterialsandSurfaceScienceInstitute(MSSI)istheleadingnationalinstituteinmaterialsandisinternationallyrecognisedforitswork.MSSIhasgatheredtogetherfacultymembersfromarangeofacademicdisciplines(materialsscience;physics;chemistry;biochemistry;andelectronic,mechanical,biomedicalandaeronauticalengineering).MSSIutilisesthisinterdisciplinaryapproachtodevelopandcharacterisematerialsfromtheatomictothemacroscopicscale,providingnewmaterials,processesandapplications.
MSSIisthelargestresearchinstituteintheuniversityandcurrentlyhousesover220researchers.Theinstituteresidesinapurpose-builtbuildingthathousesacomprehensiverangeofstate-of-the-artequipmentandfacilitiesforthesynthesisandcharacterisationofmaterials.MSSIhasasignificanttrackrecordinsolvingfundamentalresearchproblemswithdirectapplicationinindustryandhascollaborativeresearchprogrammeswithawiderangeofcompaniessuchasCookInc,Pfizer,RusalAughinishAlumina,Merck,RocheandCrescentDiagnostics.MSSIcurrentlyhasover100activecollaborationswithresearchinstitutionsnationally,acrossEuropeandintheUS,China,IndiaandAustralia.
TheresearchactivitiesofMSSIarefocusedonfourresearchthemes:nanomaterials,biomaterials,compositeandglassmaterials,andbio/catalysisandcleantechnology.
Nanomaterials
Controlofmatteratthenanoscale(dimensionssub-100nm)isfundamentaltoarangeofmodernindustriesandinparticulartoelectronicsandphotonics.Asenhancementofmaterialanddeviceperformancethroughcontrolatthemicroscalereachesitslimits,dramaticimprovementscanbeachievedthroughthesynthesis,controlandorganisationofmaterialatthenanoscale.MSSIfocusesondevelopingnewmaterialsforsemiconductorandsolarcellapplications.
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Biomaterials
Biomaterialsresearchisconcernedwiththedevelopmentofbiomimeticmaterialsinwhichin-vivodevicesfunctioninwaysthatmimictheorganortissuetheyarereplacingorsupplementing.Specifictargetareasfortheclusterareorthopaedicsandvascularrepairandreplacement,withanemphasisondevelopingmaterialsthatenableregenerationoftissue.
Composite and Glass Materials
Compositematerialsareusedwidelyinlightweight,safety-criticalapplications,suchasthosefoundinmodernaircraftstructures.Recently,theirusehasbroadenedintoarangeofapplicationsusedinbiomedicaldevicesandintheautomotiveandconstructionsectors.Ceramics,ceramiccompositesandglassesarealsousedasbiomaterialsandphotonicmaterials.Thecompositeandglassmaterialsclusterisfocusingonproducingmaterials,structuresanddeviceswithhighperformance,maximumfunctionalityandminimalenvironmentalimpactduringproductionandutilisation.
Bio/Catalysis and Clean Technology
Thisclusterfocusesonthedevelopmentofnewcatalystsandmethodsofproducingmaterialsmoreeffectivelyandefficiently.Amajorprogrammehascommencedtoexaminethemechanismbywhichcrystalsform.Thisisasignificantchallengeandaseriousissueinthepharmaceuticalsector,whichishighlyregulatedandwheretheproductionofpharmaceuticalingredientsintheincorrectformatcanbesignificantintermsofcostandwastedisposal.FormoredetailsonMSSI,visitwww.ul.ie/mssi.
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dr syed A. m. tofAil / senior research fellow
DrSyedA.M.TofailisaseniorresearchfellowatMSSI.DrTofailreceivedhisBScin1996andMScin1999,bothinmetallurgicalengineeringfromtheDepartmentofMaterialsandMetallurgicalEngineering,BangladeshUniversityofEngineeringandTechnology,Dhaka,Bangladesh.HewasalecturerattheDepartmentofMaterialsandMetallurgicalEngineeringatBangladeshUniversityofEngineeringandTechnologypriortocomingtotheUniversityofLimerickin1999topursuehisPhDattheDepartmentofPhysics.HecompletedhisPhDin2002andjoinedMSSIasapostdoctoralfellowbeforetakinguphiscurrentpositionasaseniorresearchfellowin2006.
DrTofail’sresearchinterestisinthephysicalpropertiesofmaterialswithaspecificfocusonbiomaterialsandsurfaces.In2005,hediscoveredthathydroxyapatite,themainmineralcontentofboneandteeth,hadpiezoelectricproperties,whichmayhaveimplicationsforthedevelopmentofnewboneimplants.Whileheisactivelypursuingresearchinthisarea,DrTofailhasalsocommencedresearchprojectsinthemodellingandcharacterisationofmaterialsandcurrentlyleadsaresearchgroupinthisfield.
Since2005,thegrouphasreceivedover €0.4millioninfundingfromEnterpriseIrelandforresearchworkwithhydroxyapatiteandnitinol.DrTofailisProjectCo-ordinatorforBIOELECTRICSURFACE,aEuropeanCommissionFP7project.ProjectpartnersincludenineotherEuropeanagenciesaswellasNUIGalwayandIrishcompaniesBeoCareandCookMedical.Theprojectwilladdresstheinteractionsofbiologicalspecieswiththesurfacesofmedicaldevices.Theprojectteamintendstodevelopnanotechnology-derivedtextilesthatwillhelphospitalsintheirfightagainstMRSA.
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dArrAGH GAffney / Phd student
DarraghGaffneyisaPhDstudentatMSSI.HereceivedaBScinChemistryfromUCDin2005.WhileattendingUCD,Darraghcompleteda12-weekUREKAplacementintheresearchlaboratoryofDrPeterRutledgeand,afterreceivinghisdegree,workedintheresearchlaboratoryofProfessorDonaldFitzmauriceforninemonths.HethenmovedtotheUniversityofLimerickafterapplyingforaPhDposition.Darraghwasveryimpressedwiththeuniversityasawhole.NotonlywasMSSIequippedwithcutting-edgetechnologybuttherewasatangiblebuzzabouttheplacethatwasgeneratedfromthemultidisciplinaryresearcherslocatedthere.
Darragh’scurrentprojectdealswiththetailoredadsorptionofenzymesontomesoporoussilicatesforthegenerationofbiocatalysts.Atypicaldayisspentworkinginthelaboratoryandtroubleshootinganyproblemsthatarise,aswellasusingarangeofinstrumentationtocharacterisesamples.Duringtheacademicyear,aportionoftheweekisallocatedtodemonstratingandteachingtoundergraduatestudents.Darragh’sproject,whichisfundedbySFI,hasgivenhimtheopportunitytotraveltointernationalconferencesfromwhichcollaborationswithotheruniversitieshavearisen.
dr Gráinne cArroll / Postdoctoral research fellow
DrGráinneCarrollcurrentlyworksasabiomedicalengineeringpostdoctoralresearchfellowatMSSI.GráinneoriginallycametoULin1999tostudyBEngMechanicalEngineering.Shewasintroducedtotheconceptofbiomedicalengineeringontheprogramme,whichcombinedherinterestinengineeringandbiology.WhilecompletingherfinalyearprojectunderthesupervisionofProfessorTimMcGloughlin,Gráinnerealisedthatshehadastronginterestinresearchanddecidedtoapplyforpostgraduatepositionsinthebiomedicalengineeringfield.ShejoinedtheCentreforAppliedBiomedicalEngineeringResearch(CABER)inMSSI.HerPhDprojectincorporatedengineeringandbiologybynumericallyinvestigatingbloodflowwithinthevenoussystemfordialysispatientsandsubsequentlyanalysingtheregulationofendothelialcellgenesbybloodflow.
DuringhertimeasapostgraduatestudentatUL,Gráinnewasabletoavailofanumberofopportunities,whichincludedpresentingherworktootherbiomedicalengineersathomeandabroad.InternationaltripsincludedtravellingtoMunichfortheWorldCongressofBiomechanicsandtoColoradoandFloridafortheAmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineersSummerBioengineeringConference.Notonlydothesetripsprovidestudentswithachancetodeveloptheirpresentationskillsbuttheyalsointroducethemtotheinternationalbioengineeringworld.Throughtheseconferences,studentscanmakecontactswithinthebiomedicalengineeringfield,whichwillhopefullyopendoorsforthemwhentheycompletetheirpostgraduatestudies.
UponcompletionofherPhDinJanuary2008,GráinneappliedtotheFÁSScienceChallengeProgramme.UnderthisprogrammeshewenttoDukeUniversity,NorthCarolina,wheresheconductedfurtherbiomedicalengineeringresearchunderProfessorMortonFriedman.
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stokes institUteTheStokesInstituteisamulti-disciplinaryteamofengineersandscientistsworkingonsolutionstochallengesinthemostadvancedfieldsofhumanendeavour.Itsmissionistwo-fold:graduateeducationandscholarship;andinnovationleadingtothecreationofenterprise.Stokes’scurrentresearchportfoliofocusesonthreeapplicationareas:ICT,aeronauticsandlifescienceresearch/moleculardiagnostics.
Information & Communications Technologies (ICT)
• Thermalmanagementtechnologies:interfacematerials;two-phaseheat spreaders;fansandactiveheatsinks;lowprofilecoolingtechniques;single-phase liquidcooling• Energymanagementfromsilicontoambientinlarge-scalecomputingand communicationsfacilities• Energyharvestingfromvibrationalandthermalsources• Reliabilityphysicsofelectronicinterconnectionandpackaging:hygro-thermo- mechanicalanalysis;corrosionscience;shockandvibrationtesting;failureanalysis; andreliabilitystatistics
Aeronautics
• Fundamentalsofaerodynamics,includingboundarylayertransitiontoturbulence• Heattransferinaircraftstructuresandcompositematerials• Energyefficiency/entropygenerationinfluidsystems
Life Science Research/Molecular Diagnostics
• Microfluidics-basedsystemsforgeneticanalysis
TheStokesInstituteisbasedinacustom-builtresearchspacewithinUL’sEngineeringResearchBuilding.Ithasasuiteoflaboratoriesthatarecomprehensivelyequippedforexperimentationandsimulationonfluidmechanics,heatandmasstransfer,andmaterialsphenomena.ItalsohasaccesstoUL’sstate-of-the-artmaterialscharacterisationfacilities.
Stokes’sresearcherspublishprolificallyandpresentfrequentlyatinternationalconferencesandmeetings.TheInstitutehasanexcellentreputationforitsgraduateeducation–ithasagrowingalumni,manyofwhomhaveprogressedtohigh-levelcareersinindustryandacademia.
Stokesparticipatesstronglyingovernmental,Europeanandindustrially-fundedresearch.Ithasfosteredparticularlydeeppartnershipswithacademia,researchorganisationsandindustry,suchasJointResearchCentre,BellLaboratories,Airbus,Nokia,Bart’sHospital,USDepartmentofEnergyandHewlett-Packard.Inparticular,Stokespridesitselfonthecreationofenterprisethroughspin-outcompanies(StokesBioLtd.)andtechnologylicenses(AMD,AsiaVitalComponents,Henkel).Forfurtherdetails,visitwww.stokes.ie.
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cilliAn bUrke / A Postgraduate’s experience
DuringmyMechanicalEngineeringundergraduatestudiesatULIwasintroducedtotheworldofengineeringresearchthroughasummerplacementwiththeStokesInstitute.Iworkedonlaser-basedvibrometrytechniquestoexaminethemechanicalresponseofelectronicassemblies,complementingskillsthatIdevelopedonanine-monthcooperativeeducationplacementatAnalogDevicesinLimerick.MytimeattheInstitutealsogavegreatpracticalapplicationformanyskillslearnedthroughoutmystudiesinULandafoundationformyfinalyearproject–aninvestigationofthereliabilityofthreenewly-developedsoldermaterialsunderharshvibrationenvironments.Igraduatedwithafirstclasshonoursdegreein2008.
MyexperiencesofresearchinspiredmetoapplyforanIRCSETscholarshiptostudyatStokes,andmyapplicationwassuccessful.MyresearchfocusesonadvancedpackagingtechnologiesforMicroElectroMechanicalSystems(MEMS),devicesthatareusedextensivelyinmodernelectronicssuchasmobilephones.MyworkisbeingconductedinclosecollaborationwithAnalogDevices.IamcurrentlydevelopinganoveltestfacilitytocharacterisethemechanicalpropertiesofglassfritsealingmaterialsforMEMS.Postgraduateresearchworkischallengingandveryrewarding.MyprojecthasbeenenhancedthroughtheexperiencedguidanceofmysupervisoratStokesandthecloseindustriallinkswithAnalogDevices.IhavealreadyhadtheopportunitytopresentmyresearchataninternationalconferenceintheUS,andIhaverecentlygivenaninvitedtalkatAnalog’sR&DfacilityinBoston.
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dr ryAn enriGHt / Postdoctoral research fellow
OncompletionofhisBEng(Hons)degreeinMechanicalEngineeringatULin2004,RyanenrolledasaPhDscholarattheStokesInstitute.Hisresearch,fundedbytheSFI-fundedCTVRTelecommunicationsprogramme,investigatedsuperhydrophobicsurfacesforthermalmanagementapplications.AconsiderableportionofhisdissertationworkwasperformedatBellLaboratories,MurrayHill.
OncompletionofhisPhDin2008,hetookupapostdoctoralpositionwiththeCTVRatULtocontinuehisresearch.Inmid2009,RyanwasawardedanINSPIRE:IRCSET-MarieCurieInternationalMobilityFellowshiptoworkatMIT’sDeviceResearchLaboratory,apositionthatfeaturescontinuedcollaborationwithStokes.Ryan’scurrentresearchinterestsareintheareasofsurfacewettability,micro-scaletransport,andthermalmanagementfornext-generationtelecommunicationsequipment.
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GrAdUAtes life after your Phd
Traditionally,themajorityofpostgraduatestudentsmovedfromPhDstudyintoacademiaandteaching.Today,however,asthenumberofstudentscontinuingtofourthlevelhasincreased,sotoohasthediversityofgraduateemployment.
Realisingthatthefutureofmanypostgraduatestudentswillfalloutsidethetraditionalroute,theGraduateSchoolatULoffersavarietyoffreecoursesintransferableskillstoresearchstudents.Thesecoursesofferstudentstheopportunitytoincreasetheirknowledgeinavarietyofareas,suchasprojectmanagement,communicationandpresentationtechniques,ITskills,teambuildingandcareermanagement.
ULalsooffersadedicatedcareerssupportservicetoresearchstudents.Afull-timecareersadvisorisavailabletomeetwithpostgraduatesonaone-to-onebasistocovertopicssuchascareeroptions,employmentopportunities,jobsearchstrategies,applicationsandinterviews.InconjunctionwiththeGraduateSchool,thepostgraduatecareersadvisordeliversasuiteoftrainingworkshopstohelppostgraduatesidentifyandprovideevidenceoftheirtransferableskills.Careersfairsandemployerbriefingsareorganisedthroughouttheacademicyearandofferstudentstheopportunitytodiscusstheircareeropportunitiesandinterestsdirectlywithpotentialfutureemployers.Inaddition,theCareersServiceliaiseswithboththeGraduateSchoolandtheInternationalEducationDivisiontodeliveraninformationseminaron‘WorkinginIrelandforInternationalStudents’.
research careers
ThecareeropportunitiespursuedbyULresearchgraduatesisevidenceofthediversityinboththerangeofsubjectareaexpertiseandtransferableskillsofourresearchpostgraduates.The2008graduatesurveydemonstratesanexcellentemploymentrecordforPhDgraduates–thesurveyshowedthatover83%ofgraduatesmoveddirectlyintoemploymentacrossallsectors,includinghighereducationresearch,academia,publicsector,consultancyandindustry.Salarylevelsvaryamongresearchstudents–averagesalariesrangefrom€32,000to€44,000perannum,dependingonthesectorofemploymentandnatureofthejob.
ULoffersresearchstudentstheopportunitytodevelopexcellentacademicresearchskillsandexpertiseaswellasexpandingontheirpersonalandprofessionaltrainingtobestpositionthemselvesforawidevarietyofcareeropportunitiesupongraduation.
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Ul research Graduates
dr Helen mcQUillAn / Postdoctoral researcher
HelenMcQuillanwasrunningarestaurantbusinessinEnnisin1992whenshesawanadvertisementinherlocalnewspaperforpostgraduatecoursesinUL.JoiningtheWomen’sStudiescourse,shegraduatedwithanMAin1994andaPhDin2006.
HeleniscurrentlyworkingasapostdoctoralresearcherintheCentreforSocialandEducationalResearchinDIT.Herresearchisfocusedondigitalinclusion,youngpeopleandnewmedia,andgenderandtechnology.Despitebeingaself-confessedtechnophobewhenshejoinedUL,amoduleon‘Technology,InnovationandSocialChange’setherresearchinterestsandhercareerinadirectionshecouldneverhaveenvisaged.WhileshewasdoingherPhDsheworkedasresearchmanagerfortwomajorICTprogrammes:theEnnisInformationAgeTownProjectinIrelandandtheLocale-GovernmentProgrammeinEngland.WithuniqueinsightintocommunityengagementwithICT,HelenhasworkedasanadvisortoEU,IrishandUKgovernmentsone-inclusionpolicy.Shenowworkswithmanycommunitytechnologyprojects,includingDIT’sDigitalCommunityprogrammeandLimerickCity’sCommunityICTprogramme.
dr dAVid collinGs / senior lecturer
DavidCollingsisaseniorlecturerininternationalmanagementatNUIGalway.HeisagraduateoftheBBS,MBS(HumanResourceManagement)andPhDprogrammeatUL.AftercompletinghisPhDDrCollingsjoinedthefacultyattheUniversityofSheffield’sManagementSchoolintheUK.Hehaspublishedwidelyintheareaofhumanresourcemanagement.HisworkhasappearedinleadingjournalssuchasHumanResourceManagement,JournalofWorldBusiness,InternationalJournalofHumanResourceManagement,HumanResourceManagementReview,andinanumberofchaptersinresearchmonographsandtextbooks.Hehaseditedsixbooks,themostrecentofwhichisHumanResourceManagement:ACriticalApproachwithGeoffWood(Routledge2009).DrCollingsiscurrentlyeditoroftheHumanResourceManagementJournalandIrishJournalofManagement.
“IcannotrecommendthePhDprogrammeattheKemmyBusinessSchoolhighlyenough.MystudiesweresupervisedbyProfessorsPaddyGunnigleandMikeMorley,whoaretwooftheleadingscholarsinthefieldofinternationalHRM,notonlynationallybutinternationally.Thekeybenefitsoftheprogrammeincludedthepersonalattentionstudentsreceivedfromtheirsupervisionteam,theresearchculturewithintheKemmy
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BusinessSchool,thetop-qualityfacilitiesandtheworld-classfaculty.ThefactthatIgainedapermanentfacultypositioninoneoftheUK’sleadingmanagementschoolsattheUniversityofSheffieldbeforeevenhavinggraduatedfromtheprogrammeistestamenttotheinternationalreputationwhichtheUniversityofLimerickandtheKemmyBusinessSchoolenjoyinternationally.ThePhDprogrammeattheKemmyBusinessSchoolmostcertainlyprovidedmewithaverysolidfoundationforacareerinacademia,andIwouldrecommenditwithoutreservationtoanyoneconsideringpursuingaPhDinHRMorinternationalmanagementmoregenerally.”
dr tom comyns / strength & conditioning coach
“MyPhDresearch,whichwasfundedbytheIrishRugbyFootballUnionandEnergia,focusedonappliedstrengthandconditioningtrainingmethods.Itlookedathowtoeffectivelycombineweighttrainingandplyometric( jump)trainingtoenhancethepowertrainingofIrishrugbyplayers.SincecompletingmyPhDinMay2006,IhavebeenworkingasstrengthandconditioningcoachwithMunsterrugbyandtheIRFU.Ichosethiscareerpathbecauseitwasadirectfollow-onfrommyappliedresearchandhasprovidedmewiththeopportunitytoapplymyresearchfindingstoimprovethequalityoftheMunsterrugbyplayers’strengthandpowertraining.”
dr AbiGAil mAckey / Postdoctoral research fellow
“TheprojectscarriedoutaspartofmyPhDinULwerefocusedonmonitoringtheresponseofmuscletodifferentexercisechallenges.Themainaspectofthisresearchwasdocumentingthechangesintheconnectivetissuestructureswithinthemuscle.Theworkwasperformedonbloodandmusclesamplesfromhealthyyoungmenandwomen,andthefindingswerepublishedinpeer-reviewedjournals.
SoonaftercompletingmyPhDin2003,ImovedtotheInstituteofSportsMedicine,Copenhagenforatwo-yearpost-docposition,whereIamnowpermanentlyemployed.MymainjobhereistocarryoutexperimentsaswellastoeducatePhDstudentsinmethodsrequiredfortheirownanalyses.TheworkIdoinDenmarkiscloselyrelatedtomyresearchinULfromthepointofviewoflaboratorymethodsaswellasbuildingontheknowledgebaseestablishedatthattime.WhileIcan’tsaythatIeversetouttopurposelypursueacareerinresearch,IcansaythatbeingwhereIamtodayisduetoacombinationoffactors,i.e.choosingworkthatIenjoyandthathasgoodprospects,andchoosingoptionsthatwereopentomeatvariousstagesofmycareerpath.”
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dr ronAn skeHill & dr iAn rice / entrepreneurs
InNovember2009,CauwillTechnologiesLtd.wasawardedtheBest-EmergingCompanybyIntertradeIrelandintheSeedcorncompetitionandscooped€100,000.Thecompanywasfoundedin2009byRonanSkehillandIanRice.Thecompany’sproduct,PinPoints,isasmartweb-mobiletechnologythatreachesintosat-navsandprogramsthemforendusers.Cauwill’ssoftwareandservicesaresoldtothetravelindustry,andthecompanyiscurrentlyfocusingontheonlinehotelbookingenginesegmentofthemarket.
BothgraduatescompletedtheirPhDsunderthesupervisionofDrSeanMcGrathintheWirelessAccessResearchCentreatUL.DuringtheirresearchtheysecuredanEnterpriseIrelandProof-of-Conceptproject,whichfocusedonlocation-basedservicesandextendingthetechnologytomobileplatforms.Theresearchanddevelopmentconductedduringtheprojectformedthefoundationsofacommercialandpatentedpieceoftechnology,whichultimatelyledtothecreationofCauwillTechnologiesLtd,thespin-outcompany.
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Applying for Postgraduate research
Theminimumentryrequirementtoapostgraduateresearchdegreeisanhonoursprimarydegree(level8–asdefinedbytheNationalQualificationsAuthorityofIreland)withaminimumclassificationofa2:1or2:2.Individualfacultiesorresearchcentresmayhavespecificentryrequirements.
Thefirststepinapplyingforagraduateresearchpositionistoidentifyapotentialsupervisorandproject.Up-to-dateinformationonresearchactivitiesinfaculties,departmentsandresearchcentresisavailableontheULwebsite:www.ul.ie.Atthisstageyoushouldalsotrytoidentifypossiblesourcesoffunding.
Onceyouhaveidentifiedasupervisorandproject,youshouldcompletearesearchapplicationformandsubmitittothePostgraduateAdmissionsOffice.Applicationformsareavailablefromwww.graduateschool.ul.ie.ULacceptsresearchapplicationsthroughouttheyear.
international Applicants
Inadditiontotheminimumentryrequirementsspecifiedabove,internationalapplicantsareadvisedtomeetthefollowingstandardEnglishlanguagerequirements:
IELTSscoreof6–6.5andnotlessthan6inanyonecomponentforentrytotheFacultyofScience&Engineeringandacompositescoreintherangeof6.5–7andnotlessthan6inanyonecomponentforentrytotheFacultiesofArts,Humanities&SocialSciences,Education&HealthSciencesandtheKemmyBusinessSchool.
Informationonvisas,immigration,accommodationandinsuranceisavailableontheGraduateSchoolwebsite:www.graduateschool.ul.ie.
fees
Anup-to-datescheduleoffeesisavailabletodownloadfromwww.graduateschool.ul.ie
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funding
Fundingforpostgraduateresearchisavailablefromavarietyofsources.IndividualfacultiesatULmayofferscholarshipsorfundedpositionswhileexternalfundingisavailablefromIrishandinternationalresearchcouncils,otherpublicbodiesandtheprivatesector.ThetwomainresearchcouncilsinIrelandaretheIrishResearchCouncilforScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET)andtheIrishResearchCouncilforHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS).Localauthorityfundingisalsoavailabletoresearchstudents.
for further information contact: Postgraduate Admissions Office Graduate School University of Limerick
E: postgradadmissions@ul.ie T: +353 61 23 43 77
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Front cover: The Living Bridge, University of Limerick
The 350 metre long pedestrian bridge is one of the most innovative and impressive pieces of architecture on campus. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, London and built by Eiffel Construction Metallique, the bridge connects the north and south banks of the university campus.
The bridge includes four platforms, which are designed to accommodate social gatherings, informal teaching sessions, music and dance performances as well as a wide array of educational, social and cultural activities.
Photographs: Eoin Stephenson, Rumhann Howard-Hildige