Orla Feely

Orla Feely is the President of University College Dublin (UCD), having previously served as Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact (2014–2023). She holds a BE from UCD and MS/PhD degrees from UC Berkeley, where her thesis won the DJ Sakrison Memorial Prize. Her research focuses on nonlinear circuits and systems, supported by grants from Science Foundation Ireland and the Wellcome Trust. She is a Fellow of IEEE, Engineers Ireland, and the Royal Irish Academy, and has held leadership roles in organizations like CESAER and the Irish Research Council.

Education:

• BE, University College Dublin
• MS, University of California, Berkeley
• PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Research interests include nonlinear circuits, systems dynamics, and MEMS technology. Key grants include funding for gravitational turbulence studies (Wellcome Trust, 2024–2026) and nonlinear effects in communications circuits (SFI, 2003–2012). Awards include the IEEE Fellow distinction for contributions to nonlinear discrete-time circuits and systems.

Professional activities include chairing the IEEE Technical Committee on Nonlinear Circuits and Systems, serving on the Higher Education Authority Board, and judging panels for the BT Young Scientist and Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.