Shane Gilroy is a Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at the Department of Mechatronic Engineering, ATU Sligo. His research focuses on automotive systems, particularly autonomous vehicles, image sensor technology, and object detection challenges in occluded environments. He actively contributes to improving road safety through advancements in pedestrian detection, sensor validation, and cybersecurity in connected vehicles. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing innovation in urban mobility and sustainable infrastructure. Gilroy’s expertise spans computer vision, robotics, and automotive engineering, with notable contributions to occlusion classification methods and lifecycle validation of automotive components. He is currently accepting PhD students to further explore these interdisciplinary areas. Key research themes include: Autonomous vehicle perception systems Occlusion challenges in road safety Image sensor performance optimization Cybersecurity for connected vehicles Lean manufacturing methodologies His publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on practical applications, from improving pedestrian detection algorithms to evaluating sensor reliability under real-world conditions. Recent work explores urban mobility solutions and the integration of machine learning models for occlusion analysis.
Siobhan Moane is a researcher actively contributing to Medical Imaging , Pharmacology , and Sports Science , with work aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her recent research focuses on Deep Learning applications in Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) and Computed Tomography (CT) for cardiac and urological diagnostics, as well as Augmented Reality integration in ultrasound-guided procedures. Moane also explores pharmacological properties of natural compounds for antimalarial and antitrypanosomal therapies through in vitro and in silico studies. Key trends in her publications include AI-driven biomedical imaging (2025: 4 articles), machine learning for segmentation tasks , and clinical applications of imaging technologies . In Sports Science (2024), she conducted a systematic review on load monitoring tools in Gaelic sports. Collaborative efforts span institutions like the University of Cape Coast and University of KwaZulu-Natal , reflecting her interdisciplinary and global approach.
Emeritus Associate Professor David Timoney is affiliated with the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin (UCD). His roles include former Associate Dean of Engineering, Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning, and Director of the UCD ME (Energy Systems) Programme. He holds degrees including BE, MEngSc, PhD, and certifications such as Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance (C.Dip.A.F.). Research Interests: Focus areas include Energy in Transport, Vehicle Engineering, Internal Combustion Engines, Emissions Control, Energy Systems Engineering, and Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES). Notable projects involve quasi-adiabatic CAES systems, emissions from solid fuel combustion, and electric bicycle innovations. Grants & Awards: Recipient of the IEI Mullins Silver Medal (1996) and Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering (2011). Lead or contributor in grants such as 'Quasi Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage' (2013–2014) and 'Improved Emissions Inventories for NOx and PM' (2007–2010). Teaching & Leadership: Coordinated modules like Energy Engineering, Energy in Transport, and Engineering Thermodynamics. Previously held leadership roles including Dean of Engineering (2007–2011) and Director of UCD’s Energy Conversion Research Centre (1987–2006). Labs & Teams: Former Director of the UCD Energy Conversion Research Centre, focusing on combustion systems, emissions, and energy efficiency. Collaborations include work with Ricardo Consulting Engineers (UK) and interdisciplinary projects in smart cities and sustainable transport.
Marion McAfee is a Senior Lecturer in Systems and Control Engineering at Atlantic Technological University. She co-directs the MISHE Centre and leads projects in sustainable manufacturing, AI applications, and sensor technologies. Her research integrates machine learning with real-time process control. Key initiatives include PROCEED 3D for personalized drug delivery devices and iGREENPHARM for sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Dr. Mark Kennedy is a Research Fellow in the School of Physics at University College Cork (UCC), specializing in astrophysics with a focus on magnetic white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. His research integrates observational astronomy, computational modeling, and machine learning to study accretion processes in compact binaries and gravitational-wave astronomy. Kennedy holds a PhD from UCC and the University of Notre Dame (2017), supported by a Naughton Fellowship. He completed a Newton International Fellowship (2017–2019) at the University of Manchester and currently leads the 'Invisible Monsters' project funded by a Government of Ireland Fellowship (2021–present). His academic career includes ERC-funded work on neutron star mass measurements and contributions to the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) project. Kennedy serves as Communications Officer and Postdoctoral Researcher Representative for the Astronomical Society of Ireland. He teaches PY3109 (Introduction to Observational Astrophysics) and PY2106 (Introduction to Astrophysics and Special Relativity) at UCC. Key research areas include transitional millisecond pulsars, black widow/red back systems, and machine learning applications for detecting hidden black holes using all-sky surveys. Awards include the Naughton, Newton, and Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships. His work has been published in high-impact journals and presented at international conferences, with a focus on multi-messenger astronomy and compact object dynamics.
Emilie Pine is Professor of Modern Drama at the School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin (UCD), where she has been a faculty member since 2008. She is a leading scholar in the interdisciplinary fields of theatre, memory, trauma, and cultural studies, with a particular focus on contemporary Irish culture and the ethics of witnessing institutional abuse. She is Principal Investigator of the major IRC-funded project Industrial Memories , which re-examines the 2009 Ryan Report through digital humanities methods. Pine is also Editor of the Irish University Review and founding Director of the Irish Memory Studies Research Network. BA (Mod), Trinity College Dublin PhD, Trinity College Dublin Her research centers on the intersections of memory, testimony, and performance, particularly in the context of Ireland’s institutional past. She investigates how trauma is remembered, represented, and re-performed in theatre and digital media. Her work combines literary scholarship with data analytics to develop new methodologies for reading large-scale state reports. She has published extensively on modern drama, memory cultures, and the politics of commemoration, with a strong emphasis on ethical witnessing and social justice. Her recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with digital witnessing, textual analysis of state reports, and site-specific performance. These works explore themes such as digital audio walks, machine learning applications in humanities research, and the affective dimensions of spectatorship. Collectively, her articles demonstrate a methodological innovation at the intersection of literary studies, digital humanities, and human rights advocacy. Irish Book of the Year Award (2018) for Notes to Self Kate O’Brien First Novel Award (2023) for Ruth & Pen Fulbright Irish Scholar (2010) Emilie Pine supervises research in modern drama and memory studies and has coordinated numerous modules including Contemporary British Theatre , Memory and Testimony , and Theatres of War . She has received competitive research grants such as the IRC New Horizons grant for Industrial Memories and funding for digital humanities projects involving the British Library Labs corpus. She is actively involved in academic service as a committee member of the Royal Irish Academy’s Languages and Literatures Committee, the Memory Studies Association Advisory Board, and the International Association for the Study of Irish Literatures. She also leads the Memory Cloud Project and co-founded initiatives to commemorate Irish Magdalene history. She is a founding member of the Irish Memory Studies Research Network and has collaborated with theatre companies such as ANU Productions and Dead Centre Theatre Company, contributing to public-facing performances that engage with historical trauma and personal narrative.
Dr. Grace Wenling Cao is an Assistant Professor in Linguistics (Phonetics and Phonology) at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University College Dublin. She holds a PhD from the University of York and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to her current position, she served as a Hong Kong RGC Postdoctoral Fellow and lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. PhD in Linguistics – University of York MSc in Developmental Linguistics – University of Edinburgh Her research focuses on sociophonetics , forensic phonetics , and language attitudes in multilingual contexts, particularly in Hong Kong. She investigates phonetic convergence, cross-language speaker identification, the impact of visual cues on speech perception, and identity-related language changes in Cantonese and Hong Kong English. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with real-world applications in forensic science and human-AI interaction. Recent publications span high-impact journals and conferences, showing a strong trend in using acoustic-phonetic analysis to understand social biases, speaker identity, and forensic challenges in trilingual environments. Her work increasingly integrates AI and machine learning approaches to speaker recognition, especially in cross-language settings using filled pauses as biometric markers. She has received multiple scientific awards and grants, including the prestigious Hong Kong RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship and funding from the Worldwide Universities Network. Her current research includes a major project on human-AI speech accommodation. Hong Kong RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Worldwide Universities Network Research Mobility Program CUHK Global Scholarship Program Linguistic Association of Great Britain Conference Fund University of York Humanities Research Centre Grant Dr. Cao actively supervises graduate students, having guided 14 Master’s theses and one undergraduate intern. She coordinates key modules such as Phonology (MA), Phonology 2, and Sounds in Language at UCD. She has also taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses at CUHK and HKUST, including sociolinguistics, phonetics, and bilingualism. She leads research on trilingual speech in Hong Kong, particularly focusing on forensic applications and sociolinguistic identity. Her team explores how filled pauses, accent perception, and visual cues affect intelligibility and speaker identification, with implications for both legal and technological domains.
Professor Nick Holden is a leading academic at the University College Dublin (UCD), School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, specializing in agricultural sustainability and environmental impact assessment. He holds a PhD in Soil Science and has held roles such as Head of Teaching and Learning, Head of Agricultural Systems Technology, and Deputy Director of the UCD Earth Institute. His research focuses on sustainability of food systems, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), soil quality, and precision agriculture. He leads the Food Chain Sustainability theme in the UCD Institute of Food and Health and is a Principal Investigator in major projects like CONSUS, BEACON, AgroChemWhey, and AgroCycle. Education: BSc (University of London), MEngSc (UCD), MSc (University of Reading), PhD (UCD). His teaching spans LCA, green technologies, precision agriculture, and research methods. He supervises graduate/post-doctoral research and coordinates modules like 'How Sustainable is My Food?' and 'Life Cycle Assessment.' Research interests include livestock production sustainability, dairy processing, and waste valorization. His work bridges academia and industry, with collaborations in Ireland, Europe, and beyond. Key awards include the Douglas Bomford Trust Award and Fellow of the Institute of Soil Science. Grants include SFI-funded projects and EU Horizon 2020 initiatives. Labs/Teams: UCD Earth Institute, UCD Institute of Food and Health, Bioresources Research Centre. His publications address sustainability challenges in agriculture, bioeconomy, and environmental policy.
Dr. Marek McGann is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Mary Immaculate College since 2005. His research focuses on enactive and ecological approaches to cognitive science, emphasizing embodied cognition and the interplay between mind, body, and environment. He co-convenes the ENSO Seminars series and co-founded T-REX (Teachers' Research Exchange), an online platform bridging academic education research with classroom practice. Additionally, he contributes to FACiLiTATE, Ireland's network for problem-based learning in higher education. Education: BA, M Litt, MA (UCD); DPhil (Sussex) Affiliations: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts Key Projects: T-REX, FACiLiTATE, ENSO Seminars Research interests include moral judgment categorization (MJAC), critiques of psychological research methodologies, and the application of enactive theory to education. His work challenges conventional cognitive science paradigms by prioritizing situated, embodied understanding over abstract mental models. Publications span topics from ecological psychology to moral dumbfounding, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. He actively engages in infrastructural projects to enhance research-practice collaboration in education.
Professor Siobhán Clarke is a leading academic in the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin, focusing on software systems that enable smart urban environments. She directs the Enable SFI research programme and the Future Cities center, while co-leading major initiatives like ADVANCE and contributing to CONNECT and Lero . Her work bridges theoretical and applied research in dynamic software services, IoT, and edge computing. BSc, PhD (Dublin City University) Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA, 2023) Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (FTCD) Her research explores smart city infrastructure , dynamic software adaptation , and multi-agent collaboration in large-scale mobile environments. Key projects include DIVERSIFY (EU FP7), Lero (SFI center), and TRANSFoRm (EU FP7 healthcare interoperability). Scientific contributions span QoS optimization , stigmergic service composition , and decentralized coordination . Awards include the Best Student Paper at ICWS 2011 and 2011 Postgraduate Course of the Year as Course Director. She supervises PhD and MSc students in software engineering, IoT, and urban computing. Current Projects: Enable (SFI), Future Cities (Trinity), ADVANCE (SFI) Previous Projects: DIVERSIFY (EU), TRANSFoRm (EU), Slice-Oriented Programming (SFI)
Rachel Mary Mc Loughlin is a Professor in Immunology and Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin . Her research focuses on Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis, T cell biology , neutrophil responses , and vaccine development . She has led numerous projects funded by institutions such as Science Foundation Ireland , Wellcome Trust , and GlaxoSmithKline . Education : Not explicitly detailed in the text. Research Interests include: Host-Pathogen Interactions with Staphylococcus aureus Immunomodulation via cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, Type I IFN) Vaccine Design targeting skin and respiratory immunity Neutrophil Apoptosis and autophagy during infections T Cell Memory in bacterial infections Her peer-reviewed publications (over 90) span immunology, microbiology, and vaccinology , with recent work on Staphylococcus aureus immune evasion mechanisms and IL-22 regulation. She has received multiple honors, including the TCD Faculty of STEM Award (2023) and Science Foundation Ireland Early Career Researcher of the Year (2017) . Grants and Projects : Skin delivery and tissue-resident T cell responses (GSK, 2021–2025) Characterisation of skin resident memory CD4 T cells (GSK, 2019–2024) Vaccination: Knowledge is Power (HRB, 2018–2022) Staphylococcus aureus immunosuppressive memory (Wellcome Trust, 2017–2021)
Assoc Professor Gerard Cagney serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Mass Spectrometry Core at the University College Dublin in the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science. His research spans proteomics, epigenetics, and systems biology with applications in psychiatric biomarker discovery, plant biochemistry, and microbial biotechnology. He leads the BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Center's WP2 and has secured major grants from Wellcome Trust and Science Foundation Ireland. Current roles: Director, Mass Spectrometry Core (2018-present); Head of Research, Impact, Innovation, SBBS (2018-present) Education: BSc (UCD), PhD (Queen's University Belfast) Research interests include: Proteomic biomarker development for psychosis risk prediction Epigenetic regulation through histone modifications and chromatin remodeling Plant protein extraction and bioactivity characterization (e.g., bitter gourd antidiabetic proteins) Microbial bioplastic (PHA) system proteomics in Pseudomonas putida Nanoscale shape-dependent epigenetic responses Recent grants include: Wellcome Trust IMPETUS grant (2021-2023) for proteomic psychosis markers Science Foundation Ireland BiOrbic grant (2019-2027) as Principal Investigator UCD Equip Scheme (2019-2020) for technology acquisition Previous SFI grants (2008-2013) for functional food research Professional activities involve: College Research Innovation Impact Board membership (2018-2020) Leadership in mass spectrometry core facility Collaborations with University of Nottingham and EU-GEI consortia
Associate Professor Chandralal Hewage is a structural biologist at the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, with over 30 years of expertise in NMR spectroscopy. His research focuses on biologically active peptides for diabetes therapy, antimicrobial drug development, and liver disease metabolic studies. Research Interests: Structural analysis of diabetes-related peptides Design of GIP and endothelin receptor drugs NMR-based antimicrobial peptide studies Liver cell metabolic profiling in disease states Development of computational peptide modeling tools Scientific Contributions: Organizer of international conferences EUROMAR 2012 and ICMRBS 2018. Author of >100 publications. Developer of bioinformatics tools APPTEST and ENNAVIA for peptide structure/activity prediction. Professional Affiliations: ICMRBS Council Member European Peptide Society Council Member Chairman of Irish Peptide Society
Associate Professor Yan Yan is a leading researcher at University College Dublin's School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, where she currently holds the position of Associate Professor (since July 2024) after serving as Assistant Professor from 2018-2024. Her research program focuses on understanding nanoscale interactions with the immune system to develop novel immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking University, China Postdoctoral training at the University of Melbourne Science Foundation Ireland SIRG Fellow Marie Curie Fellow Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow Professor Yan's research interests center on nanoscale shape biology and its applications in immunotherapy development. She has pioneered work on how nanoparticle architecture influences immune responses, particularly through the study of nanostructure shape effects on T cell receptor repertoires and histone modifications. Her interdisciplinary approach combines nanotechnology, immunology, and biointerface science to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Her laboratory investigates protein corona formation, nanoparticle translocation across biological barriers, and the development of shape-dependent immunomodulatory therapies. Analysis of Professor Yan's publication record reveals a strong focus on systematic investigation of nanoscale shape effects on biological systems. Her work has evolved from fundamental studies of protein corona formation to more recent applications in immunotherapy development, with increasing emphasis on translation to clinical applications. Her research demonstrates consistent innovation in methodology, particularly in developing frameworks for systematic nanoscale shape discovery and evaluation. 1st Prize Interstellar Initiate at New York Academy of Sciences (2017) Starting Investigator Research Grant from SFI (2016) Australian Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research (2013) Discovery Early Career Research Award from ARC (2013) Reviewer Excellence Award (top 1% reviewers, 2017) Professor Yan has successfully secured numerous research grants including HEA Covid-19 funding, the NANOSCAPE project, EXOTRAIN, and multiple UCD Equip Scheme awards. She supervises PhD students and coordinates modules including Biochemist's Toolkit, Bioprocessing, and Enzyme Technology & Protein Engineering. Her laboratory is part of the Conway Institute at University College Dublin, where she leads an interdisciplinary team working at the interface between nanostructures and the immune system. Her research group maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines, focusing on translating nanoscale discoveries into therapeutic applications for cancer and infectious diseases.
Professor Brian Rodriguez is a full-time faculty member in the School of Physics at University College Dublin, based at the Conway Institute in Belfield, Dublin 4. His research bridges nanoscale materials physics and biomedical applications, with expertise in scanning probe microscopy techniques. He maintains an active teaching schedule across multiple modules and can be contacted via brian.rodriguez@ucd.ie or phone at 01 716 6744. His academic credentials include: BS from University of North Carolina MS from North Carolina State University, USA PhD in Physics from North Carolina State University, USA (2003) Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning from University College Dublin Rodriguez specializes in piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for characterizing ferroelectric materials, polar nitride semiconductors, and biological systems. His work has expanded into bio-inspired nanomaterials development, including sustainable peptide semiconductors for sensing, amorphous alloys for antibacterial implants, and electrocatalysts for green hydrogen. He actively integrates machine learning with AFM data to advance cancer diagnostics, emphasizing translational applications in biomedicine and energy. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate interdisciplinary momentum toward sustainable nanomaterials for energy conversion and biomedical sensing. Key trends include seawater electrolysis catalysts using MBenes/borides, metal-free SERS platforms with peptide semiconductors, and electric-field-activated pathogen detection. His group pioneers techniques like fluid-phase 3D printing for hydrogel patterning and high-voltage KPFM adaptations, with consistent focus on fundamental electromechanical property characterization. Award highlights include: UCD College of Science Women in Science Mentoring Award (2024) Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2007) RMIT Foundation International Research Exchange Fellowship (2010) Two UT Battelle Team Awards (2006) Rodriguez coordinates core modules including Bio-inspired Technologies (2016-2025), AFM for Bionano (2016-2025), and Nanomechanics (2017-2025), using active-learning pedagogies. His research is funded through Science Foundation Ireland's GROW Supplement (2017), the OBRSS Research Support Scheme (2016-2023), and the Resolve-NP project grant (2023-2025) targeting lipid nanomedicine characterization at single-particle resolution. He leads the NanoFunction research group (nanofunction.org) within UCD's Conway Institute, focusing on nanoscale functional materials. Current projects involve peptide-based sensors, antimicrobial coatings, and electrocatalyst engineering, supported by collaborations with Zhang, Bao, and Brennan on the Resolve-NP grant. Rodriguez also contributes to SIMUFER (Single- and Multiphase Ferroics with Restricted Geometries) and maintains active professional society memberships.
