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Dr. Salem S. Gharbia is the Head of the Department of Environmental Science and a Principal Investigator at Atlantic Technological University (ATU). He leads the Centre for Environmental Research Innovation and Sustainability (CERIS) and co-founded the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment (MISHE). His research focuses on climate resilience, environmental monitoring, and modeling, with expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), wireless sensor networks, and climate change impacts. Dr. Gharbia coordinates major EU projects like Horizon 2020 SCORE and has secured over €14M in research funding. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin, where he received the prestigious Ussher Award. His work spans collaborations with the Irish EPA, Horizon Europe, and the Marine Institute, addressing coastal flooding, microplastic detection, and sustainable agriculture. Education: PhD in Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin. Research interests include climate adaptation strategies, urban resilience, and innovative sensor technologies for environmental monitoring. His projects emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to address global challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and coastal erosion. Awards: Trinity College Ussher Award. Grants: Over €14M secured over five years for projects like EmpowerUS, Pro-climate, and WaterFutures. Advising: Accepting PhD students in environmental science and engineering. Labs: CERIS and MISHE, focusing on climate modeling and environmental systems.

• Climate Resilience
• Environmental Monitoring
• Environmental Modeling
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Dr. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco is an Ussher Associate Professor in Nanomineralogy at Trinity College Dublin. His research focuses on experimental mineralogy, particularly mineral nucleation, growth, and interactions with environmental systems. He leads a research group addressing challenges in carbon capture and storage, water decontamination, and strategic metal recycling. His work combines geochemistry with advanced microscopy and interdisciplinary approaches. His research interests include mineral formation mechanisms, pollutant removal via mineral surfaces, and the design of sustainable resource management strategies. Key areas include carbonate mineralization for carbon sequestration, rare earth element recovery from waters, and energy-efficient separation of critical metals. Notable achievements include over €900K in grants as Principal Investigator, supervision of 7 PhD students, and equipment acquisitions. Awards include the 2021 European Association of Geochemistry Distinguished Lecturer and 2014 Distinguished Service Award. Current projects involve collaborations on nanomineral-based filters, geochemical modeling of mineral-water reactions, and advanced microscopy techniques. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and edited special issues on mineral dynamics and rare-earth carbonates.

• Nanomineralogy
• Environmental Geochemistry
• Mineral Nucleation and Growth
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Professor Gil Lee holds the Stokes Full Professor of Physical Chemistry position at the University College Dublin, School of Chemistry . With a B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and University of Minnesota respectively, he transitioned to academia after postdoctoral research at the American Society of Engineering Education and a research engineer role at the Naval Research Laboratory. His career spans associate professorship at Purdue University (2000-2008) and adjunct roles, showcasing a trajectory marked by innovation in biomagnetic technologies . Education B.S. Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (1987) Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota (1992) Postdoctoral Fellow, American Society of Engineering Education (1995) Executive Education Global EMBA, TRIUM (2016) His research is driven by three key areas : Bionanomaterials : Development of superparamagnetic microparticles for biological separations, drug delivery, and hyperthermia therapy. Techniques include iron-gold nanorods and self-assembled iron oxide nanoparticles with controlled surface chemistry. Single-Molecule Force Analysis : Pioneering work in atomic force microscopy (AFM) for quantitative force measurements, including streptavidin-biotin bond lifetime studies and magnetic tweezers for parallel ligand-receptor analysis. Biosensing & In Vitro Diagnostics : Innovations in immunomagnetic cell separation, magnetophoretic sensing, and microfluidic devices for rapid pathogen detection and cancer diagnostics. His scientific awards include the Stokes Chair (2008), E.T.S. Walton Fellowship (2006), and multiple Edison Patent Awards. He has received grants for projects in cancer diagnostics and microfluidic technologies . His teaching activities focus on advanced physical chemistry modules, emphasizing kinetics and thermodynamics, with roles as module coordinator since 2014.

• Bionanomaterials
• Single-Molecule Force Measurements
• Biosensing and In Vitro Diagnostics
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Andrey Bezrukov is a Research Professor in the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick. His research focuses on advanced materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their applications in gas separation, carbon capture, and water harvesting. He leads projects exploring structural flexibility, phase transformations, and adsorption mechanisms in porous materials. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with practical environmental and industrial challenges. Key research interests include: Carbon Dioxide Capture, Ultramicroporous Engineering, Adsorption Dynamics, Chiral Separation, and Sustainable Materials. His studies often involve structural characterization (X-ray, crystallography) and computational modeling to understand material behavior under varying conditions. Recent work highlights include developing dual-purpose water vapor sorbents, optimizing MOFs for C₂H₂/CO₂ separation, and creating chiral crystalline sponges for enantiomeric separation. Collaborations span global institutions, emphasizing materials for environmental sustainability. Over 40 peer-reviewed articles since 2010 reflect his contributions to Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. His research has been featured in prestigious journals like Journal of the American Chemical Society and Advanced Materials . No scientific awards are explicitly listed. Advising details are not provided in the text.

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Adsorption Technology
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Dr. Yuansheng Hu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, specializing in Water and Environmental Engineering. He joined UCD in July 2023 after holding academic positions at Atlantic Technological University Sligo (2022–2023) and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (2012–2017). His research focuses on biological wastewater treatment, biosolids valorisation, microalgae biotechnology, and constructed wetlands. Dr. Hu also serves as a module coordinator for courses including Geotechnics, Environmental Engineering Fundamentals, and Design and Communications. His academic journey includes a DPhil from UCD and a postdoctoral role at the National University of Ireland, Galway (2016–2022). He is proficient in English and Mandarin, with expertise in peer review and technical communication. Research highlights include advancing anaerobic digestion processes, nitrogen removal technologies, and sustainable wastewater management solutions. His work bridges environmental engineering with biotechnology, emphasizing practical applications for pollution control and resource recovery. Research Interests: Autotrophic nitrogen removal, anaerobic treatment, microalgae-based biofuels, and low-impact development via constructed wetlands. Teaching: Coordinates modules in geotechnical engineering, environmental fundamentals, and design methodologies. Affiliations: UCD School of Civil Engineering, with prior roles at institutions in Ireland and China. Publications span 20+ years, addressing topics like microplastic contamination, microbial degradation pathways, and innovative wastewater treatment systems. His contributions aim to address global environmental challenges through interdisciplinary research and education.

• Biological wastewater treatment
• Biosolids treatment and valorisation
• Microalgae biotechnology
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Professor Niall English is a leading academic at University College Dublin's College of Engineering & Architecture, specifically within the School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering. With over 20 years of dedicated research in gas hydrate systems, his work bridges fundamental science and industrial applications, particularly in climate change mitigation and wastewater treatment innovation. His research focuses on gas hydrate kinetics, methane emissions, and microbial regulation of hydrate stability , with groundbreaking contributions to understanding the relationship between Earth's magnetic field reversals and historical mass extinction events (the 'Belfast hypothesis'). Key interests include: Nanobubble engineering for industrial wastewater treatment Electromagnetic field effects on chemical processes Microbial-peptide regulation of gas hydrates Climate change implications of Arctic hydrate destabilization Professor English's recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong trend toward environmentally sustainable applications , particularly electric-field nanobubble technologies for wastewater treatment, biogas upgrading, and carbon capture. His work demonstrates significant cross-disciplinary integration of computational chemistry, environmental engineering, and geophysics. He received the Leverhulme Trust Research Project Award (2021-2023) for 'Exploring the potential for biocatalytic gas-hydrate formation (BioGHF)', reflecting the international recognition of his work. His commercialization efforts include two spin-out companies: Aqua-B (CEO) for nanobubble wastewater treatment and BioSimulytics for pharmaceutical crystal-structure prediction software. Professor English actively collaborates with Queen's University Belfast microbiologist Professor Chris Allen, filing joint patents for regulating gas hydrate growth using proteins and peptide sequences. Their research targets the $1 trillion wastewater treatment industry, aiming to solve challenges in processing heavily polluted water through hydrate-based separation techniques.

• Gas Hydrate Research
• Climate Change Impacts
• Methane Emissions
• +5 more

Barry Brennan is a Staff Research Scientist at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) within the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, based in Sligo. He holds a PhD in Physics from Dublin City University (2009), specializing in surface characterization of III-V semiconductors. His research focuses on advanced materials characterization techniques such as Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy to study nanomaterials like graphene, 2D materials, and high-k dielectrics. He has held visiting positions at the National Physical Laboratory (UK) and contributed to over 80 peer-reviewed publications, addressing challenges in materials synthesis, surface functionalization, and energy storage systems. Education: PhD in Physics (Dublin City University, 2009), specializing in surface and interface characterization of high-k dielectric materials on III-V semiconductors. Postdoctoral research at the University of Texas at Dallas (2010–2014) and the National Physical Laboratory (2014–2022). Current roles include leadership in nanomaterials research and collaboration with industry partners. Research interests include: 1) Characterization of 2D nanomaterials (graphene, MoS2, hBN) for electronic and biomedical applications; 2) Surface cleaning and functionalization of nanomaterials for device fabrication; 3) Development of sustainable catalytic systems using Prussian blue analogues; 4) Electrochemical studies of battery materials (lithium-ion, sodium-ion); and 5) Innovations in nanocomposite drug delivery systems. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy (SDG7) and industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG9). His recent articles explore topics like gas cluster ion beam cleaning for graphene electronics, Fenton reaction catalysis using FeCo Prussian blue analogues, and optimization of nanofiber-based drug delivery systems. Collaborative projects involve academic institutions and industrial partners in materials science and energy technology. Labs/Teams: Active member of ATU’s research groups focused on materials characterization and nanotechnology. Previously affiliated with the National Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Imaging and the National Graphene Metrology Centre (UK).

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Surface Chemistry
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Matteo Lusi is an Associate Professor at the University of Limerick, affiliated with the Bernal Institute, Dairy Processing Technology Centre, and Department of Chemical Sciences. His research focuses on crystal engineering, solid-state chemistry, and pharmaceutical polymorphism, with contributions to sustainable energy storage and materials science. Education: PhD in Chemistry from the University of Bristol (2010) and Laurea in Chemistry from the University of Bologna (2005). Research Interests include solid solutions, crystallography, and the design of porous materials for gas storage. His work integrates experimental and computational methods to study molecular interactions and phase transitions. Publications span advancements in covalent organic frameworks, coordination networks, and drug delivery systems. Collaborations emphasize functional materials for environmental and pharmaceutical applications.

• Crystal Engineering
• Solid Solutions
• Solid State Chemistry
• +3 more

Shaza Darwish is a Researcher at the University of Limerick, affiliated with the School of Engineering. Her work focuses on advanced materials science, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination networks, emphasizing gas sorption, phase transitions, and sustainable applications. She contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through innovations in carbon capture and water harvesting. Her research interests include designing ultramicroporous materials for CO₂ sequestration, water vapor sorption, and selective gas separation. Notable projects explore supramolecular interactions, shape-memory effects in molecular materials, and phase-switching mechanisms in 2D networks. Collaborations involve global institutions, advancing applications in environmental engineering and energy storage. Key achievements include developing robust sorbents for C₂H₂ and C₃H₄ separation, and creating layered materials for propane capture from natural gas. Her work bridges fundamental material science with practical solutions for environmental challenges. Publications highlight breakthroughs in MOF synthesis, including mechanochemical methods and PXRD analysis of structural transformations. Her research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global sustainability goals.

• Metal-Organic Frameworks
• Gas Sorption
• Material Science
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Dr. Elena Tsalaporta is a Lecturer in Process and Chemical Engineering at University College Cork (UCC). She holds a PhD from University College Dublin (UCD), where her research focused on CO2 capture using novel adsorbents. Her academic journey includes postdoctoral work at Trinity College Dublin's CRANN Institute on Direct Air Capture (DAC) projects with Trinity Green Energies. She joined UCC in 2017, continuing research into carbon capture technologies and sustainable materials development. Education: BE and ME in Chemical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2010) PhD in CO2 capture technologies from UCD (2016) Research Interests: Dr. Tsalaporta specializes in carbon capture and direct air capture (DAC), emphasizing novel adsorbent materials and sustainable process design. Her work spans experimental studies of adsorption processes, lifecycle assessments of DAC plants, and bibliometric analyses of carbon capture research trends. She also advocates for gender equity and sustainability in engineering education through curriculum innovation and soft skill integration. Key Projects: Collaborations include work with the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) and Verein Deutscher Zementwerke (VDZ). Her research addresses both technical challenges (e.g., adsorbent optimization) and societal implications (e.g., DAC feasibility in Ireland). Awards: No scientific awards listed. Advising & Grants: No advisees or grant details explicitly mentioned. Focus remains on faculty-led research initiatives. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with UCC's Process and Chemical Engineering department, contributing to interdisciplinary environmental research efforts.

• Carbon Capture and Storage
• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• +3 more

Graece Tan Shiau Pin is a Lecturer at South East Technological University (SETU), affiliated with both the Eco Innovation Research Centre and Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre. With over 15 years of experience in natural product research, her work spans antimicrobial compounds, bioactive extraction, and sustainable applications in wound healing, agriculture, and environmental engineering. Education: PhD (2013), Master's Degree (2022) External Positions: ESAI Council Member & SETU College Liaison Her research focuses on Natural Product Formulation , Antimicrobial Bioactives , and Circular Bioeconomy , particularly seaweed-derived compounds. Key applications include: Biopesticides development Medical device integration Waste valorization strategies Phosphate removal technologies Recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining: Marine biotechnology Pharmaceutical sciences Environmental engineering Agricultural applications Scientific recognition includes: National Forum Teaching Hero (2021) International Phycological Society grants Multiple HEA-funded research awards She has supervised 2 PhD projects in the Eco Innovation Research Centre, with ongoing work exploring bioactive incorporation into diverse applications.

• Natural Product Research
• Antimicrobial Compounds
• Bioactive Extraction
• +3 more

Joaquin Klug is a Lecturer in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Science at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health & Environment (MISHE). He holds a Licenciatura (BSc Hons) and PhD in Chemistry from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. Prior roles include positions at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Queen’s University Belfast, Dublin City University, and University College Dublin. His research focuses on computational chemistry, quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, and machine learning, with applications in drug formulation, nanoparticle-membrane interactions, and molecular crystal design. Key contributions include studies on cocrystal formation, lipid bilayer-peptide interactions, and free-energy calculations in nanoparticle adsorption. Notable collaborations involve institutions in Argentina and Ireland, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches combining computational and experimental methods. Klug is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has contributed to over 8 peer-reviewed articles since 2013, with significant citations in materials and biophysical sciences.

• Computational Chemistry
• Quantum Mechanics
• Molecular Dynamics
• +3 more

Dominika Capkova is a Researcher in the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Limerick. Her research focuses on advanced battery technologies with particular expertise in lithium-sulfur batteries and electrochemical energy storage systems. She has established herself as a prominent researcher in the field of battery materials with numerous publications spanning from 2018 to 2025. Her research interests center around electrochemistry and materials science with specific focus on lithium-sulfur battery technology , metal-organic frameworks for energy storage , and machine learning applications for battery performance prediction . Her work addresses critical challenges in battery technology including the polysulfide shuttle effect, cathode material design, and state-of-charge/state-of-health estimation. An analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating machine learning techniques with electrochemical battery research . Her work spans fundamental materials development (metal-organic frameworks, sulfur cathodes) to applied aspects (battery management systems, degradation modeling). The interdisciplinary nature of her research combines chemistry, materials science, and computational methods to advance next-generation energy storage solutions. Dr. Capkova has actively collaborated with researchers across multiple institutions, as evidenced by her co-authorship on numerous publications. Her research output shows consistent growth, with increasing publication counts from 2018 to 2022, demonstrating her active engagement in the field. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record suggests successful funding acquisition to support her research activities. Her work appears to be conducted within research groups focused on advanced battery materials and electrochemical energy storage systems , with particular emphasis on solving the technical challenges associated with lithium-sulfur battery technology. The collaborative nature of her publications indicates she works within multidisciplinary teams addressing various aspects of battery technology development.

• Battery Technology
• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• +4 more

Dr. Pavel Gladyshev is an Associate Professor at the School of Computer Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland. He leads the Digital Forensics Investigation Research Laboratory (DigitalFIRE) and specializes in digital forensics, cybercrime investigation, and information systems security. He established UCD's MSc programs in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation, focusing on law enforcement and private sector training. His research includes forensic technology automation, big data analysis in forensics, and human-machine interaction in investigations. Educations: Diploma in Computer Systems Engineering, Chelyabinsk State Technical University Master of Science in Computer Science (Research), UCD Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (Digital Forensics), UCD Research Interests: Dr. Gladyshev’s work spans forensic technology development, cybercrime analysis, and legal collaboration frameworks. He focuses on advancing investigative tools like automated inference systems, MLAT processes, and forensic device interoperability. Notable projects include the 'Decision-theoretic file carving' and 'Cryptopometry' methodologies. Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator for the Horizon 2020-funded AIDA project (2020–2023) Recipient of UCD College of Science Teaching Award (2020–2025) Chair of CDFS Standards Committee (2012–2014) Labs & Collaborations: The DigitalFIRE Lab develops cutting-edge tools like the 'Apache NiFi data pipeline' for forensic workflows. Gladyshev collaborates with INTERPOL on IT crime strategies and chairs international conferences (e.g., ICDF2C, DFRWS EU).

• Digital Forensics
• Cybercrime Investigation
• Information Systems Security
• +3 more

Dr. Sithara Sreenilayam is an Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Dublin City University since June 2023 and a Funded Investigator at I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. She holds a Ph.D. in Soft Matter Physics from Technological University Dublin and an M.Sc. in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. Her research spans nanomaterials, printed electronics, additive manufacturing, laser processing, and liquid crystals. She investigates applications in energy storage, biomedical devices, and environmental solutions. Dr. Sreenilayam has published extensively on these topics, with recent work focusing on nanoparticle synthesis, 3D-printed biomedical scaffolds, and functional materials for sensing applications.

• Conductive Inks
• Nanomaterials
• Printed Electronics
• +3 more