Helen Hughes

Prof. Helen Hughes is a Professor at South East Technological University (SETU), affiliated with the Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) and Eco-Innovation Research Centre (EIRC). She holds roles including Academic Enterprise Liaison, course leader for the BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science program, and work placement coordinator. Her research focuses on pharmaceutical science, biotechnology, environmental applications of marine resources, and drug delivery systems.

Education: PhD (1993) and Bachelors in Analytical Sciences (1990), both from Dublin City University.

Research Interests: Shellfish waste valorisation, seaweed-based bioherbicides, antimicrobial compounds, environmental impact assessments, biopharmaceutical excipients, transdermal drug delivery via microneedles, and nanoparticle-based ocular drug delivery.

Key Achievements: Awarded WIT Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision (2009) and a 2025 prize. She has published extensively (59+ works) and collaborates internationally. Professional memberships include the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland and Eurachem. She has supervised 11 students and contributes to courses like Food Science, Molecular Biology, and Analytical Science with Quality Management.