David Corcoran

David Corcoran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick. He specializes in statistical and non-linear physics with a focus on complex systems, including earlier contributions to astronomy and astrophysics.

Education:

• BSc in Applied Physics, Dublin City University (1989)
• PhD, Dublin City University (1994)

Dr. Corcoran's research spans computational and statistical physics, with interests in phase transitions, nucleation, criticality, chaos, evolutionary optimization, and genetic algorithms. His work has practical applications in earthquake dynamics, electromigration in microelectronic interconnects, and pattern formation for next-generation lithography.

Collaborations include institutions such as:

• Cambridge University
• Max Planck Institute for Complex Systems in Dresden
• CNR-Institute of Complex Systems in Rome

He has supervised eight PhD and three MSc students and teaches general physics, optics, and earth science at the University of Limerick. He held leadership roles as Head of the Department of Physics (2005–2011, 2014–2021) and Head of the School of Natural Sciences (2018–2021).