Problem-Based Learning Professors and Supervisors in Ireland

Shane BerginView profile

Associate Professor

University College DublinIreland

Shane Bergin is an Associate Professor in Science Education at University College Dublin (UCD), School of Education. He holds adjunct roles, including Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin. His work focuses on informal science learning, education policy, and public engagement, with a strong emphasis on fostering trust in science. Bergin leads research groups funded by EU Horizon Europe, Marie Curie Actions, and Irish government bodies. He has created initiatives like Quavers to Quadratics and hosts media programs such as The Trust Race podcast. His teaching includes a cross-disciplinary module, 'Why Trust Science?' Educations : BA (Mod) in Physics & Chemistry of Advanced Materials, Trinity College Dublin PhD in Physics, Trinity College Dublin Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning, UCD Universal Design for Teaching & Learning certification (2023) Research Interests : Bergin investigates informal learning strategies, science communication, and curriculum design. His work bridges education policy and community outreach, addressing gender representation in STEM and ethical dimensions of academic collaboration. He advocates for inclusive pedagogical frameworks, such as Universal Design for Learning, to adapt to diverse student needs. Grants & Advising : He directs UCD's MSc in Mathematics & Science Education and oversees Teaching & Learning initiatives. His grants fund interdisciplinary research on science trust and public engagement. He mentors PhD students and postdocs in education and nanomaterials. Labs & Teams : Bergin leads a dynamic research group exploring science education and nanomaterials. Collaborations include projects on graphene surface energy and carbon nanotube dispersion, reflecting his dual expertise in education and physics.

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Sarah DillonView profile

Assistant Professor

University of LimerickIreland

Sarah Dillon is an Assistant Professor at the School of Allied Health , University of Limerick, specializing in physiotherapy, evidence synthesis, cancer, and ageing research. She is affiliated with the Ageing Research Centre and Health Research Institute . BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, University of Limerick PhD, Dublin City University (2022) Her research focuses on evidence synthesis, physical activity, and healthcare education, with applications in oncology, gerontology, and student learning. Key projects include kinematic analysis of runners, geriatric assessment models, and network analysis of late-life depression. Recent publications (2025): Functional data analysis for running injuries Systematic review of geriatric assessment models Network analysis of depression and cognition Training protocols for evidence synthesis Student experiences in research teams Scientific contributions include: 2× SWAR Funding Awards Travel Bursary for Global Evidence Summit (2024) As a committed educator, she employs Universal Design for Learning, flipped classrooms, and problem-based learning to enhance student engagement in physiotherapy education. Her work aligns with UN SDGs 3 (Health) and 4 (Education).

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Louise KiernanView profile

Associate Professor

University of LimerickIreland

Louise Kiernan is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture & Product Design, University of Limerick. Her work spans design research, education, and practice with a focus on ethical considerations and cognitive processes in design teams. Chair of Design Educators Ireland Chair of HSE Mid West Innovation Steering Committee Research Interests: Design ethics for vulnerable populations Gender dynamics in STEM education Cognitive team processes in design Entrepreneurship in design education

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Douglas LeithView profile

Professor

Trinity College DublinIreland

Professor Douglas Leith is the Chair of Computer Systems at the School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin. His research spans online privacy (investigating data collection by Google/Apple devices and COVID-19 contact-tracing apps) and predictive analytics (machine learning for recommender systems and decentralized algorithms). Research Interests: His work includes privacy verification for digital ecosystems, differential privacy frameworks, and transformer-based neural networks for cold-start problems. Past projects cover wireless networks, multipath TCP, and nonlinear control theory for wind turbines. Awards & Grants: Royal Society Research Fellowship (1995-2005) Principal Investigator on multiple Science Foundation Ireland grants (e.g., €1.8M for privacy-enhanced analytics, €3M for green networks) Teaching: He instructs courses on Machine Learning (CS7CS4/CSU44061) and Optimization for Machine Learning (CS7DS2).

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Keelin LeahyView profile

Associate Professor

University of LimerickIreland

Dr. Keelin Leahy is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Limerick, specializing in Technology Education. She is also a member of the Epi-STEM National Centre for STEM Education. Her work focuses on creativity, design thinking, and sustainable practices in educational contexts across various levels of the education system. Education: PhD in Design-based Strategies for second level education, University of Limerick (2009) Bachelor of Technology (BTech), University of Limerick (2005) Research Interests: Dr. Leahy's research spans multiple areas in educational innovation, with a strong emphasis on creativity in education and design-based learning approaches . Her work explores ideation methods and strategies for developing creative cognition in students, with particular attention to sustainable practices. She has conducted significant research on design education for sustainability within Ireland's second level education system, examining how design thinking can be integrated with environmental education. Her scholarship also investigates professional STEM identity development among university students and professionals. Scientific Awards: ERASMUS+STEM Award (2018) IRC Funding Award: Ideation Development for Educational Approaches and Skills (IDEAS) (2017) IRC New Foundations Award: Assessing creativity through Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (2013) IRCSET: A strategic approach to education and training in design activities in the technologies (2007) President's Advanced Scholar Award Programme (2005) Advising and Grants: Dr. Leahy has supervised numerous taught Masters theses and articles. Her research has been supported by multiple funding sources including IRCSET, IRC, and ERASMUS+. She completed a research sabbatical with University of Michigan and Iowa State University in 2016, indicating strong international research collaborations. Her work on the Framework for Junior Cycle represents significant engagement with national educational policy. Labs and Teams: Dr. Leahy is an active member of the Epi-STEM National Centre for STEM Education and participates in multiple research communities. She serves on the Design Research Society and has been involved with environmental committees including the Green Campus Committee and Environmental Committee at University of Limerick. Her collaborative work with researchers across Ireland and internationally demonstrates her engagement with diverse research teams.

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Colm O'TuathaighView profile

Medical Educator

University College CorkIreland

Colm O'Tuathaigh is a Medical Educator at the School of Medicine, University College Cork. His research spans neuropsychiatry, focusing on gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia, and medical education, emphasizing clinical communication and patient safety. He has secured funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Health Research Board, and EU programs. His neuropsychiatric research explores the neurobiological basis of social and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, using genetic models like COMT , NRG1 , and DISC1 mutants. Medical education work includes competency frameworks for geriatric care, impact of cannabis on cognitive phenotypes, and innovations in student resilience and empathy training. The articles highlight trends in schizophrenia-related cognitive neuroscience, medical education pedagogy, and patient safety. Key themes include gene-environment interactions, clinical communication barriers (e.g., age-related hearing loss), interdisciplinary learning, and evidence-based practice integration. Scientific Awards: 2007 HRB Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010 German Neuroscience Society Travel Award 2009 ECNP Fellowship 2009 IBRO Travel Award 2009 FENS Travel Award 2008 SIRS Travel Award 2006 Rafaelson Young Investigator 2000 BAP Travel Award Grants: Funded by Science Foundation Ireland, Health Research Board of Ireland, EU Lifelong Learning Programme, and others for projects on schizophrenia modeling, medical device design, and student research training. Labs & Collaborations: Collaborated with teams at Caltech, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and University College Cork on genetic models of psychosis. Currently works with interdisciplinary teams integrating medical education, geriatrics, and evidence-based practice.

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Andrew ButterfieldView profile

Professor

University College CorkIreland

Dr. Andrew Butterfield is a Professor in the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin. He serves as Head of the Foundations and Methods Group and is actively involved with Lero: the Irish Software Research Centre. His academic work spans formal methods, functional programming, and theoretical computer science with applications in safety-critical systems. Butterfield's research primarily focuses on the Unifying Theories of Programming (UTP) paradigm, with specializations in shared-variable concurrency, formal verification of medical device software, and spacecraft operating systems. His work explores composition and local denotational semantics for concurrency, UTP theories for rely/guarantee reasoning, and implementations of proof assistance tools written in Haskell. Current projects include RTEMS-SMP (formal verification of multicore real-time scheduling funded by ESA) and FMHIDA (formal techniques for medical device software development funded by SFI through Lero). His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on applying formal methods to real-world problems, with particular attention to concurrency models, medical systems verification, and tool development for UTP. The research shows consistent progression from theoretical foundations toward practical applications in safety-critical domains. Butterfield has developed several Haskell-based tools including the Theorem Proving Assistant for UTP, UTP Calculator, and Equational Reasoning Support. He has served on numerous program committees including TASE 2019, IWFM, FMICS, and FM, and is on the Editorial Board of Formal Aspects of Computing. He teaches courses including CS3016: Introduction to Functional Programming and CS2016/3D4 Concurrency and Operating Systems. Previously, he has taught Formal Methods, Functional Programming, Concurrency Theory, and various other computer science subjects. He also serves as School Disability Liaison Officer and Course Director for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship. Butterfield leads the Foundations & Methods Group at Trinity and has been involved in significant research projects including Formalising Interfaces between Software and Hardware (FISH) funded by SFI, Unifying Synchronous Systems, and ESA-funded activities on OS kernel formal verification. His work with the Irish School of VDM has produced LaTeX macros and Haskell implementations for formal method applications.

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Aisling LeavyView profile

Professor

University of LimerickIreland

Professor Aisling Leavy is a distinguished academic and Head of Department at Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick) . With a PhD in Mathematics Education from Arizona State University, she specializes in STEM Education , Statistical Literacy , and Lesson Study for primary and early years education. Her research focuses on integrated STEM pedagogy , teacher development through collaborative lesson study , and enhancing statistical reasoning in diverse learners . Recent projects include Studio LAB Encounters: Becoming STEAM Educators , STEM Café , and DIGging STEM , emphasizing rural education and technological innovation. Key awards include the C. Oswald George Award (2021) , Peter Holmes Prize (2020) , and T-REX Module Innovation Award . She supervises PhD students in STEM and mathematics education while leading national initiatives like the Primary Mathematics Education: National Centre of Excellence .

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Enda MurphyView profile

Professor

University College DublinIreland

Enda Murphy is Professor and Head of Planning at University College Dublin’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, where he directs the Professional Diploma in Foundations of Sustainable Development and leads the university’s core working group on SDG engagement. A Fulbright-EPA Scholar and visiting professor on five continents, he sits on the editorial board of PLOS ONE and the UN-SDSN SDG Academy High-Level Advisory Council. Education: BA – Trinity College Dublin Post-Graduate Diploma – Trinity College Dublin PhD – Trinity College Dublin Research interests integrate quantitative spatial planning and environmental assessment: urban land-use/transport sustainability modelling, strategic noise mapping and health-impact quantification, SDG benchmarking and index development, and critical analyses of neoliberal governance. His work has produced over 120 publications and three books, advancing policy-relevant metrics for Europe and the USA. Recent articles (2021-25) chart a coherent trajectory: construction of peer-based SDG indices for the USA, EU and Ireland; evaluation of CNOSSOS-EU noise models for Irish roads and railways; estimation of transport-noise health burdens (ischemic heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance); and exploration of COVID-19 lockdown noise reductions and cognitive effects in older adults. Awards & honours: Best Paper Award, AESOP 2020 RTPI Research Excellence Award 2015 – Early Career commendation Fulbright-EPA Scholar 2014-15 Geographical Society of Ireland Book of the Year shortlist 2014 He chairs the Irish Transport Research Network, advises Una Europa’s Sustainability & Climate Committee, and welcomes graduate research enquiries in urban planning, environmental noise and SDG governance.

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