Ollscoil Luimnigh, Luimneach, Lire

UniversiIy oI Limerick, Limerick, lreland

GuIhan / 1elephone: + 6 zoz)oo
lacs / lacsimile: + 6 o 6
Grasan / Web: www.ul.ie
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Front cover: The Living Bridge, University of Limerick
The 350 metre long pedestrian bridge is one of the most innovative and
impressive pieces of architecture on campus. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre
Architects, London and built by Eifel Construction Metallique, the bridge
connects the north and south banks of the university campus.
The bridge includes four platforms, which are designed to accommodate
social gatherings, informal teaching sessions, music and dance performances
as well as a wide array of educational, social and cultural activities.
Photographs: Eoin Stephenson, Rumhann Howard-Hildige
Vice Presidents Welcome 01
University of Limerick 03
Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 05
Faculty of Eduction & Health Sciences 13
Kemmy Business School 21

Faculty of Science and Engineering 28

Research Institutes 35
Graduates 51
How to Apply 56
Contents
Vice Presidents Welcome
TheUniversityofLimerick(UL)isayoung,energeticandenterprisinguniversitywitha
proudrecordofinnovationineducationandexcellenceinresearchandscholarship.
ULhasrecentlyundertakenastrategicreviewofitsresearchprioritiesinordertorefne
thekeyareasthatrefectitscompetitiveadvantage.Thisstrategicreviewhasbeen
guidedbythepromotionofaresearchethoscharacterisedbyconvergenttranslational
research.
Duringthepastyearourkeyresearchindicatorshaveshownstronggrowth,with
increasesinresearchapplications,researchincome,postgraduatenumbersand
commercialisationactivitiescomplementingthestronggainsinresearchoutputs.
ULoffersawiderangeofresearchopportunitiesatmastersandPhDlevels,thereby
contributingtotheadvancementofourrapidly-evolvingknowledgesocietyinthe
twenty-frstcentury.
Researchprojectsattheuniversity,whichincludeworkoncombatingthespreadof
MRSAinhospitals,streamliningtheproductionofmedicinesbythepharmaceutical
industryinIreland,theproductionofrevolutionaryvasculargraftsandtheuseof
informationtechnologyintheautomotiveindustrytocombatexhaustemissions,have
securedbothgovernmentandindustryresearchcontractsinexcessof40million.
ULhasstronglinkswithindustryfromundergraduatetopostdoctorallevel.The
universityrunsoneofthelargestCooperativeEducationprogrammesinEurope
(undergraduateinternship),andwehaverecentlycelebratedthesuccessesofcampus
companiesPowervationLtd.andStokesBioLtd.Theemploymentrateofourgraduates
hasalwaysbeenexceptional.Infact,our2008fguresshowthatover83%ofUL
postgraduateswereemployedfollowinggraduation.
Ihopethisbrochurewillgiveyouanoverviewoftheexcitingopportunitiesopento
graduatestudentsatULandwillencourageyoutoinvestigatefurther.
Professor Brian Fitzgerald
VicePresidentResearch
UniVersity of limerick
TheUniversityofLimerickisanindependent,internationallyfocuseduniversitywithover
11,000studentsand1,313membersofstaff.ULoffers73undergraduateprogrammes
andover96taughtpostgraduateprogrammesacrossfourfaculties.Ourpostgraduate
researchstudentsbeneftfromtheexperienceofinternationalresearchersandthe
availabilityofstate-of-the-artequipmentatourresearchinstitutesandcentres.
Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Education & Health Sciences
Kemmy Business School
Science & Engineering
research

KeyresearchareasatULinclude:
MaterialsandSurfaceScience
Information&CommunicationTechnologies
BioEngineering&Biosciences
EnergyandSustainableEnvironment
AppliedMathematics
StudyofKnowledgeinSociety
OtherareasunderconsiderationincludeWork,EmploymentandPublicPolicy;Foodand
Health,PhysicalActivityandSport.
Wehavefourinternationallyrecognisedresearchinstitutesacrosstheuniversity.The
fourinstitutesare:
Materials&SurfaceScienceInstitute(MSSI)
StokesInstitute
LeroIrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchCentre
InstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)
GraduateResearchatUL//03
Achievements
Overthelast12monthswehaveseenexcitingnewdevelopmentsinourresearch
institutesandcentres,asfollows:
TheSolidStatePharmaceuticalClusterinMSSIhasbeenawardedalmost7million
undertheSFIStrategicResearchClusterprogramme.
MSSIsecureda5milliontechnologyresearchcontractunderEUFramework
Programme7.TheaimoftheresearchistosignifcantlyreduceMRSAinfectionrates
inhospitalsacrosstheworld.
Lero,theIrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchCentre,continuestodevelop
technologiesforpotentialcommercialexploitationintheIrishsoftwaresector.
Over800postgraduatestudentspursuedeitherresearchmastersordoctoral
programmesinAY2008/09.
ULhassignedalmost100formalagreementswithindustrypartnersin2008alone.
ULcontinuestoleadtheuniversitysectorintermsofsuccesswithindustrypartners
intheEIInnovationPartnershipprogramme.
Collaborationwithprivateventurecapitalhasledtothedevelopmentofanumber
ofhigh-qualitycampuscompanies,includingPowervationLtd.,CrescentDiagnostics
Ltd.,CauwillTechnologiesLtd.andStokesBioLtd.

Arts, Humanities &

social sciences
faculty //
Arts, HUmAnities & sociAl
sciences
Withnearly150researchstudentsenrolled,theFacultyofArts,Humanities&Social
Sciences(AHSS)isenrichedbyavigorousandlivelypostgraduatecommunity.Funding
of2.4millionfromtheProgrammeforResearchinThird-LevelInstitutionsCycle4(PRTLI
4)hasopenedupexcitingpossibilitiesforPhDstudentsandpostdoctoralresearchers.
NewlydevelopedstructuredPhDsprovideopportunitiesforstudentstodevelopresearch
skillsthroughacombinationofcourseworkandthesisinathematicareasuchasgender,
cultureandidentity,socialscienceorappliedlanguagestudies.
EachdisciplinewithintheFacultyofAHSShasarangeofresearchstrengths.Many
researchersworkininterdisciplinarygroups.TheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledge
inSociety(ISKS)beganlifeasamajorcentreforcollaborativeresearchwithinthefaculty
andhasprogressedtobecomingacross-facultyinstituteprovidingarangeofresearch
supportservicesforresearchersinthehumanitiesandsocialsciencesacross
theuniversity.
MuchoftheresearchoutputoftheDepartmentofHistoryhasemphasiseddifferent
aspectsofearlymodernandeighteenth-centuryIrishhistory,includingwarfare,
intellectuallife,socialchangeandbiography.Otherwell-establishedresearchareas
withinthedepartmentincludetheWeimarRepublicandNaziGermany,Irishdiplomatic
relationswiththeUnitedStates,historyoffamily,arthistoryandcontemporaryhistory.
SeveralresearchersintheSchoolofLanguages,Literature,CultureandCommunication
shareeighteenth-centuryinterestswiththeDepartmentofHistoryandhelpconstitute
aneighteenth-centurystudiesresearchgroup,whichfocusesonthedevelopmentof
Frenchthought.ProfessorGeraldineSheridansworkonVoltaireisillustrative.Acluster
ofresearchershaveaddressedtheexperiencesofGermanexilesinIreland.IntheCentre
forAppliedLanguageStudiesledbyProfessorAngelaChambers,researchershave
undertakeninternationallyauthoritativeworkonlanguagecorpora-baseddiscourse
analysis.Womenswriting,especiallyinIreland,andIrishsocio-linguisticsrepresent
othermajorresearchfociwithintheschool.
Sentencing,theevolutionofIrishtortlawandtheimpactofEuropeanUnionlawin
Ireland,aswellaswiderconcernswithhumanrightsandconstitutionallaw,formpart
oftheresearchprogrammeintheSchoolofLaw.ProfessorDermotWalshhasjust
completedanIrishResearchCouncilfortheHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS)
06\\GraduateResearchatUL
fellowshipinwhichheexaminedpolicereformintheIrishRepublicandNorthern
Ireland.
IntheDepartmentofPolitics&PublicAdministration,researchersembraceadiverse
rangeoffeldsbothempiricallyandmethodologically.Withastrongcombinationof
nationallyandinternationallyrenownedspecialistsinpost-Sovietpolitics,Southern
Africanpolitics,LatinAmericanpolitics,internationalpoliticaleconomy,contemporary
EuropeanandEUpolitics,Irishpoliticsandpublicpolicy,internationalrelationstheory,
feministanalysis,criticaltheory,publicadministrationandgovernance,thedepartment
retainsastrongnationalandinternationalfocusinpoliticalstudies.Thedepartment
accommodatestheCentreforPeaceandDevelopmentStudies.Initspostgraduate
research,thedepartmentemphasisesmethodologicaltrainingincomparativepolitics,
qualitativeresearchandquantitativeanalysis.
TheDepartmentofSociologyhaslongbeencommittedtoacriticalengagementaround
whatbroadlyconstitutesthebasisofoursocialmembership,whethergendered,classed
orlinkedtocoreissuesofhealth,themedia,migration,educationorglobalisation.The
departmenthasastrongcommitmenttoandexpertiseinquantitativeandqualitative
teachingresearchmethods.WomensStudiesisbasedintheDepartmentofSociology.
However,theresearchgroupisinterdisciplinaryanditsoutputhasclusteredaround
severalthemes,includingWomenandglobalbelongingandGender,memoryand
modernity.

TheFacultyofAHSSincludesseveralinterdisciplinaryresearchprogrammes.One
suchprogramme,theRalahineCentreforUtopianStudies,hasanestablishedrecord
ofdistinctiveworkonutopianthought,literaturesandcommunities.Thecentrewas
foundedbyProfessorTomMoylanandiscurrentlyunderthedirectionofDrJoachim
FischerandDrLukeAshworth.
new and Growing Areas
Emergingresearchfeldsinwhichgroupsofresearchersarebeginningtogenerate
importantworkincludemodernSpanishliterature,developmentstudies,masculinities
andattitudestohealthissuesthatarerelatedtolifestyleandlifecycles.Interdisciplinary
researchacrossarangeofuniversitieswithinIrelandandabroadarestrengtheningand
promotingtheprofleofAHSS.
GraduateResearchatUL//07
funding
AswellasPRTLI,anothermajorsourceofcollaborativeresearchfundingwithinthe
FacultyofAHSSisAtlanticPhilanthropies,whichhassupportedPhDsandpostdoctoral
researchersinWomensStudies.IrishAidhasrecentlyfundedanetworkingproject
onsocialpartnershipsinsustainabledevelopment.IrishAidhasalsodonatedlibrary
resourcestosupportresearchandteachingindevelopmentstudiesatUL.Othermajor
fundersofindividualresearchersandresearchgroupsincludeCombatPoverty,the
HealthServiceExecutive(HSE)andarangeofgovernmentdepartments.TheFacultyof
AHSShasagoodtrackrecordinattainingIRCHSSscholarshipstosupportdoctoraland
postdoctoralresearch.
Inexcessof100PhDcandidatesareregisteredwiththeFacultyofAHSS.Adedicated
workingareaandarangeofseminarsandtrainingfacilities,includingproposal
developmentworkshops,helpfosterasenseofintellectualcommunityamongst
postgraduates.
Onthewhole,PhDworkisundertakenbyindividualscholars.Withineachdepartment,
however,clustersofstudentsworkwithincertainfelds,therebyenablingthemtoshare
experiencesandinsights.Suchdisciplineclustersinclude:

Knowledge Interfaces at ISKS:
Education,technologyandlanguage
Workmobilityintheknowledgeeconomy
TheIrishdevelopmentalstate
Mediaandmigration
Health,lifestyleandpolicy
History:
Twentieth-centuryGermany
Twentieth-centuryIrishrepublicanism
08\\GraduateResearchatUL
Language and Cultural Studies:
ExilesandimmigrantsinIreland
Irishtravelwriting
Literatureandmemoryinpost-FrancoSpain
Languageteachingandacquisition
Appliedlanguagestudies
Irishsocio-linguistics
Law:
IrishhumanrightsPoliticsandPublicAdministration:
Peacekeepingandpeacemaking
Developmentanddemocracy
Foreignaid
Europeansecurity
Internationalorganisations
EuropeanUnion
Post-Sovietpolitics
SocialpartnershipinIreland
TheIrishstate
Localgovernment
Sociology:
Socialexclusion
Genderandinequality
Healthandillness
Researchmethods
GraduateResearchatUL//09
MynameisStephenRyanandIminmysecondyearofmyresearch
inhistory.IfrstcametoULoverfveyearsagotostudyhistory,politics
andsocialstudiesandmajoredinhistory.Ienjoyedtheresearchaspectof
myfnalyearprojectimmenselyandoptedtoreturntoULtodoaresearch
mastersinhistory,whichIamcurrentlyworkingon.
Thefacilitiesthatareavailabletomeasaresearchstudentarefantastic.I
workfrommydeskinthepostgraduateresearchareaandhavemyownPC
aswellasaccesstoprintingandphotocopyingfacilities.Thelibrarystaffand
facilitiesareexcellent,andanybooksIneedaregenerallymadeavailableto
meeitherthroughthelibrarysowncatalogueorthroughinter-libraryloans.
Inmyopinion,beingaresearchstudentcanbeaveryliberatingexperience.I
canworkatmyownpace,andIhavelearnedtobecomemoreself-motivated.
TheDepartmentofHistoryandmysupervisorallowmetotakeagood
degreeofcontrolovermyownworkandhelpmeineverypossiblewaythey
can.
Beingaresearchstudentisveryrewardingbutisalsoveryhard
work.Havingsaidthat,studybyresearchisundoubtedlythe
rightcourseformetohavetaken.
stePHen ryAn / A Postgraduates experience

10\\GraduateResearchatUL
Professor AnGelA cHAmbers
AngelaChambersisProfessorofAppliedLanguagesandDirectoroftheCentrefor
AppliedLanguageStudiesattheUniversityofLimerickandamemberoftheIrish
ResearchCouncilfortheHumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS).Hercurrent
researchfocusesonsecondlanguageacquisition,inparticularontheuseofcorpus
databylanguagelearners.Shehasco-editedanumberofbooksandpublished
severalarticlesonaspectsoflanguagelearning,particularlyrelatingtocorpora.
ProfessorChambersiscurrentlyprincipalinvestigatoroftheKnowledgeInterfaces
Project,forwhichtheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)was
awardedfundingof2.5millionin2007undertheHEAsProgrammeforResearch
inThird-LevelInstitutionsCycle4(PRTLI4).ThisprojectispartoftheIrishSocial
SciencesPlatform,whichbringstogethereightinstitutionsand19disciplines.
InISKS,theprojectfunds12PhDsandthreepostdoctoralresearchfellowsand
investigatesareassuchaslanguageandcommunication,thesociologyofhealth,
andtheinteractionbetweentechnologicalchangeandsocial,culturalandpolitical
life.AftercompletingherBA(FrenchandGerman)andPhDatQueensUniversity
Belfast,ProfessorChambersworkedintheuniversitiesofBordeauxandUlster.
ShejoinedULasseniorlecturerinFrenchin1990andwasappointedtoher
currentpostin2002.In19981999,shewasassociateprofessorintheUniversit
deLilleIII,France.SheiscurrentlyamemberoftheExecutiveCommitteeofthe
EuropeanAssociationforComputer-assistedLanguageLearning,whichhasits
headquartersintheUniversityofLimerick,andamemberoftheEditorialBoardof
theassociationsjournal,ReCALL,publishedbyCambridgeUniversityPress.In1998,
ProfessorChamberswasawardedthehonourofChevalierdanslOrdredesPalmes
Acadmiques,aFrenchgovernmenthonourawardedforservicestotheFrench
languageandtoeducation.
GraduateResearchatUL//11
12\\GraduateResearchatUL
the irish World Academy of music & dance
TheIrishWorldAcademyofMusic&Dancewasestablishedin1994byProfessor
MchelSilleabhin,whoseownresearchinterestsestablishedtheAcademyasthe
internationalleaderinIrishmusicresearch.TheAcademyhasgraduated18research
studentssince1994,sixofwhomcurrentlyheaduptraditionalartsprogrammesinother
Irishhighereducationinstitutes.
ResearchattheIrishWorldAcademyencompassesawiderangeofareasfrom
ethnomusicologytomusicandhealth.Someofthekeyareasinclude:
Ethnomusicologyandethnochoreology,includingaspecialistinterestinthe
globalisationoftraditionalmusicwithparticularreferencetoEast-West/North-South
Europeannationalandregionalinteractionsandtransnationalengagementswith
othertraditionalidiomsfromaroundtheworld.
DanceResearchForumIreland,establishedbyDrCatherineFoleyin2003.Dance
ResearchForumIrelandisanon-proft,international,inclusiveandinterdisciplinary
societyforthepromotion,supportanddevelopmentofdanceresearchandpractice
inIrelandandfurtherafeld.In2009,theArtsCouncilawardedseedfundingof
140,000towardstheestablishmentofthenationaldancearchiveattheUL
GlucksmanLibrary.
TheMusicandHealthResearchGroup,establishedin2009.Currentresearch
interestsincludemusicinhealthcare,musicandlifespandevelopmentandmusic-
assistedactivityforpeoplewithdisabilityorrecoveringfrominjury/illness.
Communitymusic
StructuredPhDprogrammeinArtsPractice
Ritualsongtraditions
ResearchattheIrishWorldAcademyiscontextualisedbyweeklypostgraduateseminars,
whichprovideopportunitiesforcross-disciplinarysharingaswellasperformancesand
visitsfromartistsinresidence.
GraduateResearchatUL//15
education & Health sciences
faculty //
edUcAtion & HeAltH
sciences
TheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciences(EHS)wascreatedinJanuary2008aspartof
asubstantiveacademicrestructuringattheUniversityofLimerick.Departmentsinclude
Education&ProfessionalStudies(EPS)
PhysicalEducation&SportSciences(PESS)
Psychology(Psych)
Nursing&Midwifery(N&M)
OccupationalTherapy(OT)
Physiotherapy(PT)
Speech&LanguageTherapy(SLT)
GraduateEntryMedicalSchool(GEMS)
TheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciencesboastsavibrantresearchcommunity.
Research,alongsideteaching,isacoreactivity.Themultidisciplinarystructureand
expertiseofthefacultyprovideresearchagendasaroundactivemanagementoflifelong
ageing,biomedicalsciences,clinicaltherapies,education,food&health,healthsciences,
physicalactivity,sportandsportsciences,professionalpreparationanddevelopment,
socialissuesandpoliticalidentityallareaswherenationalchallengesexistatthistime.
Therearecurrently58full-timeand32part-timeresearchstudentsintheFacultyofEHS.
EHSprovidesanumberofhigh-qualitytaughtpostgraduateprogrammes,whichare
centraltoincreasingtheresearchcapacityofthefaculty.Ourpostgraduatestudentsare
membersofawiderresearchcommunityinvolvingresearch-activeacademicstaffand
researchspecialistswithinthefaculty.Researchinterestsandproductivityarerefected
intheincreasednumberofEHS-housedresearchcentres,unitsandgroupsthatare
nationalresearchleadersintheirfeld.
14\\GraduateResearchatUL
ResearchclustersincludingresearchcentreswithinEHSinclude:
PEPAYSPhysicalEducation,PhysicalActivityandYouthSportResearchCentre(PESS)
CentrefortheActiveManagementofLifelongAgeing(CAMLA)(GEMS)
CentreforPre-HospitalResearch(GEMS)
CentreforSocialIssuesResearch(Psych)
ResearchCentreforEducationandProfessionalPractice(EPS)
BiomechanicsResearchUnit(PESS)
CurriculumEvaluationandPolicyResearchUnit(EPS)
Ubuntu;theTeacherEducationforSustainableDevelopmentNetwork;andtheIrish
RegionalCentreofExpertiseinEducationforSustainableDevelopment(EPS)
LimerickHuboftheNationalPhysiotherapyResearchNetwork(PT)
AppliedBiostatisticsConsultingCentre(GEMS)
HumanSciencesResearchUnit(PESS)
BiomedicalIndustryInitiative2008(GEMS)
departmental interests
Education & Professional Studies
TheDepartmentofEducation&ProfessionalStudieswelcomesapplicationsfor
researchinawiderangeoffeldswithineducationatbothprimaryandsecond
level.Currentresearchinterestsincludeinitialteachereducation,actionresearch
ineducation,ICTineducation,teachereducationforsustainabledevelopment,
schoolmanagementandself-evaluation,curriculumandassessmentinsecond-level
education,genderissuesineducation,curriculumrenewalandimplementation,moral
andemotionaldevelopment,clinicalandeducationalpsychology,healthpromotion,
andguidanceandcounsellinginsecond-leveleducation.ThenewResearchCentrefor
EducationandProfessionalPractice(RCEPP)willbeakeyinfrastructureinthesupport
ofresearchinterestsacrosstheuniversityinteachingandlearning.
GraduateResearchatUL//15
Graduate Entry Medical School
TheGraduateEntryMedicalSchool(GEMS)setuptheCentrefortheActiveManagement
ofLifelongAgeing(CAMLA)in2007withavisiontoengageinrelevantmedicalresearch,
dedicatedtoimprovinghealthinsociety.CAMLAsinitialresearchfocusisonthevarious
aspectsofageingand,particularly,onstrategiestooptimisehealthinoldage.Inits
shortlifetodate,CAMLAhasbroughttogetheralargenumberofhithertodisparate
individualsandgroupstodevelopcommonresearchagendas.BecausetheGEMS
sitsintheFacultyofEducation&HealthSciences,whichincludesClinicalTherapies
(Physiotherapy,OccupationalTherapyandSpeech&LanguageTherapy),Education&
ProfessionalStudies,Nursing&Midwifery,PhysicalEducation&SportSciencesand
Psychology,itisuniquelyplacedandverykeentocollaborateininterdisciplinaryclinical,
educationalandresearchinitiatives.
Nursing & Midwifery
TheDepartmentofNursing&Midwiferyoffersarangeofvariedandexciting
researchopportunitiestoprospectivepostgraduatestudents.Thedepartments
researchfocusoverthepastfveyearsmirrorsvariousnicheareasofresearch
interestacrossthevariousdisciplinesofgeneral,intellectualdisabilityand
mentalhealthnursingandmidwifery.Prospectivepostgraduatestudentsatthe
DepartmentofNursing&Midwiferycanregisterforlevel9specialistandadvanced
practicegraduatediploma/MScprogrammesandforalevel9non-specialist
graduatediploma/MScprogrammeinnursingandmidwifery.Postgraduatemasters
programmesbyresearchandPhDarealsoonoffer.TheannualPatriciaConnor
GormanGraduateScholarshipisawardedbythedepartmenttoencourageand
supportULnursinggraduatestoengageinresearchactivities.
Occupational Therapy
TheDepartmentofOccupationalTherapyiscommittedtoengaginginrelevant
occupation-focusedresearchdedicatedtoimprovinghealthandwellbeingin
society.Departmentstaffandresearchersparticipateinanumberofnationaland
internationalresearchgroupswithintheuniversity.Awiderangeofexpertisein
clinicalandhealthserviceresearchexistswithinthedepartment.Activeresearch
areasincludeoccupationalscience,researchwithparticulargroups(peoplewith
mentalhealthdiffculties,peoplewithdementia,wheelchairusers),healthandsocial
careservicedeliveryandeducationalresearch.
16\\GraduateResearchatUL
Physical Education & Sport Sciences
TheDepartmentofPhysicalEducation&SportSciences(PESS)hasagrowingresearch
programmeintheareasofbiomechanics,exercisephysiology,exercisebiochemistry,
physicalactivityandhealth,physicaleducationandprofessionaldevelopment,motor
skills,sportspsychologyandsportscoaching.Thedepartmentcurrentlyhoststhe
PhysicalEducation,PhysicalActivityandYouthSportResearchCentre(PEPAYS),the
BiomechanicsResearchUnitandtheHumanSciencesResearchUnit.
Physiotherapy
ResearchinterestswithintheDepartmentofPhysiotherapyincludeshoulder
dysfunction,pain,outcomemeasures,cardiacandpulmonaryrehabilitation,clinical
placements,neurologicalrehabilitation(includingphysiotherapyandphysical
activityprogrammesforpeoplewithmultiplesclerosisandtheuseoftechnology
inneurorehabilitation),lowbackpain,motorcontrol,motionanalysisandsports
injuries(includinginjuryprevention),fexibility,rheumatology,fallsintheelderly,the
developmentprofleofsix-to-eight-year-oldchildreninruralIrelandandtheeffectofa
school-basedmotorskillstrainingprogramme.
Psychology
TheDepartmentofPsychologyatUniversityofLimerickisarecentaddition
tothecampus.Thisnewandvibrantdepartmentfocusesexplicitlyonsocial
psychology,whichmakesthedepartmentuniqueinIreland.TheDepartmentof
Psychologyiscurrentlyaimingtoconsolidateitsexcellentresearchprofleinareas
ofsocialpsychologysuchassocialidentity,socialdevelopment,minority/majority
relations,prejudice,socialexclusionandcrowdbehaviour.Thedepartmentledthe
developmentofaCentreforSocialIssuesResearchtopromoteresearchonsocial
issuesacrosstheuniversity.
Speech & Language Therapy
TheDepartmentofSpeechandLanguageTherapyhasexistingresearchinterests
andexpertiseinaphasia,feedingandchildhoodlanguageimpairment.Additional
researchisunderwayinprofessionaldecisionmaking,childhoodlanguage
development,multilingualism,cleftpalate,developmentalspeechdisorders,specifc
languageimpairmentandstammering.
GraduateResearchatUL//17

Iworkaspartofateamonthe
GettingtheBalanceRight
projectanevaluationofphysiotherapy
andexerciseprogrammesforpeoplewith
multiplesclerosis(MS)inIreland.Iwent
straightfrommydegreeinphysiotherapy
tomypostgraduatestudies.Mydesire
tocontributetoevidence-basedpractice
inaclinicallyrelevantareaandtomakea
positivedifferencetopeoplesliveswere
thebiggestdrivingforcesinmyquestto
pursueresearchinthistopic.
TodateIhavecompletedaliterature
review,submittedalargenumberof
ethicsproposals,carriedoutapilotstudy
andcollecteddataforthemainstudy.As
agroupwehavestartedtoenterdata
forinitialandfollow-upassessments.Themostchallengingandprobably
mostimportantpartofthefrstyearwasconductingtheliterature
reviewtoidentifythegapinresearchandthemostappropriateoutcome
measures.Thiswasalengthyandoftenisolatingprocess.However,itpaved
thewayforanexcitingyear.Highlightsofthefrstyearincludedgivingoral
presentationsatMSconferencesinLeedsandCanadaandattheannualand
studentconferencesoftheIrishSocietyofCharteredPhysiotherapists(ISCP).
Anadditionalhighlightwasthedeliveryoftrainingdaysbytheprojectteam
tophysiotherapistsonthenationalimplementationofexerciseprogrammes
forourrandomisedcontrolledtrial.
Theprojectteamhasbeenaskedtowritearticlesabouttheroleofchartered
physiotherapistsintherehabilitationofpeoplewithMS.Seeingourhard
workinprintisoneofthemoreenjoyableaspectsofresearch.Feedbackto
theprojecttodatehasbeenverypositiveandindicatesthatourresearchis
makingasignifcantdifferenceinpeoplesfunctionandqualityoflife.
MycurrentpostgraduateworkhasbeenkindlysponsoredbytheIrish
ResearchCouncilforScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET)
andisbeingcarriedoutinconjunctionwithMultipleSclerosisIreland.
mAriA GArrett / A Postgraduates experience

18\\GraduateResearchatUL

WilliAm mccormAck / A Postgraduates experience

Igraduatedin2006withaBScinSportsandExerciseScience(frst
classhonours)fromtheUniversityofLimerick.FollowingthisIspent
sixmonthsworkingasaresearchassistanttoProfessorPhilJakemaninthe
HumanScienceResearchUnit(HSRU),DepartmentofPhysicalEducation&
SportSciences(PESS).DuringthistimeIsuccessfullyappliedtotheEmbark
InitiativePostgraduateResearchScholarshipSchemeoperatedbythe
IrishResearchCouncilforScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET).I
commencedmypostgraduateresearchinOct2007attheHSRUunderthe
directionofProfessorJakeman.
Myresearchinterests
includenutrientregulation
ofgrowthfactorresponse
inhumanskeletalmuscle.
Utilisingthemicrodialysis
techniqueforthesampling
ofinterstitialfuid,this
projectseekstoinvestigate
theinter-cellularresponse
totheinteractionofamino
acidsandgrowthfactors
inhumanskeletalmuscle
followingmechanical
loading.Theresearch
challengesthehypothesis
thatskeletalmuscleprotein
synthesisisaugmented
byessentialaminoacids
viaanup-regulationof
thedifferentialexpression
ofIGFsinresponseto
mechanicalloading.
GraduateResearchatUL//19
ProfessorBillyOConnorjoinedtheGraduateEntryMedicalSchoolasHeadof
TeachingandResearchinPhysiologyin2008.Aleadingfgureinneuroscience
research,ProfessorOConnorhas25yearsexperienceinresearchandteaching.
Hehasauthoredover100fulloriginalpapers,fvereviews,threebookchapters,
oneeditorialand288conferenceproceedingsabstracts.Hehasalsoeditedone
bookMonitoringMoleculesinNeuroscience(2001)andhassecuredover3
millioninresearchfundingsince1996.ProfessorOConnorgraduatedwitha
BScinBiochemistry(1981)andaPhDinPharmacology(1986)fromNUIGalway.
LeavingIrelandin1987,heworkedasapostdoctoralresearcherinneuroscience
attheDepartmentofPhysiologyandPharmacologyattheKarolinskaInstitute,
Stockholm,whereheprogressedtothepositionofassociateprofessor.He
returnedtoIrelandin1995,takingupacollegelecturerpostintheDepartmentof
HumanAnatomyandPhysiologyinUCD.
HerosetothepositionofHeadofNeuroscienceintheConwayInstitute,where
heachievedanSFIInvestigatorawardin2004.In2000ProfessorOConnorwas
awardedtheConwaySilverMedalforAchievementintheBiosciencesandin2005
theSCRIPAwardforbestpartnershipalliancewithWyethforcooperativework
onbrainillnesstreatments.Thechallengeofdevelopingaworld-classcentreof
excellenceintranslationalmedicineandtheprospectofteachingtalentedand
motivatedgraduatestudentsenticedProfessorOConnortohiscurrentposition
withtheGraduateEntryMedicalSchool.HeisDirectoroftheTranslational
MedicineandTherapeuticsLaboratoryintheGMS,whichworksindependently
todevelopaclinicalmicrodialysisinitiativeoncampusandinthelocalteaching
hospitals.ProfessorOConnoriscurrentlyworkingonajointresearchproject
withProfessorPhilJakeman(PESS),theaimofwhichistoinvestigatechangesin
metabolisminthelegmusclesofhealthyadultsduringmusclecontraction.
Professor billy oconnor
20\\GraduateResearchatUL

GraduateResearchatUL//25
kemmy business school
kbs //
kemmy bUsiness scHool
TheKemmyBusinessSchool(KBS)isadynamicandinnovativebusinessschoolwitha
reputationforfrst-classeducationandleadingresearch.TheKBShostsover110faculty
andstaffandalmost3,000students(ofwhom480arepostgraduates).
TheGraduateCentreofBusinessissituatedintheFoundationBuildingatUL.The
GraduateCentrewasestablishedin1993toensurethatstudentswhowereengaged
inpostgraduateresearchhadahomeandanidentityandtoprovidetheservicesand
infrastructurenecessaryfortheirstudies.TheGraduateCentrecurrentlyhostsmore
than80postgraduatestudentspursuingMBSandPhDdegreesacrossarangeof
businessdisciplines.
KBSresearchfundingincludessignifcantawardsfromdomesticandinternationally
competitivefundingsourcessuchastheIrishResearchCouncilforHumanitiesand
SocialSciences(IRCHSS),EUFrameworkProgramme7andtheEuropeanFoundationfor
EntrepreneurshipResearch(EFER).MembersoftheKBSareinvolvedincollaborations
withinUL,withpartnersatotheruniversitiesworldwideandwithgovernmentagencies,
professionalorganisationsandindustrystakeholdersbothinIrelandandoverseas.The
KBScurrentlyparticipatesinanumberofsuccessfulresearchnetworkssuchasCRANET
(Cranfeld),EuropeanNetworkonIndustrialPolicy(EUNIP),Marketinginthe21stCentury
(Aston)andCrossCulturalManagement(IESE,Barcelona).
research themes of the kbs
TheresearchinterestsofKBSfacultycanbecategorisedintothefollowingfourthemes:
Work,knowledgeandemployment(themeleaders:ProfessorPatrickGunnigleandDr
SiobhanTiernan)
Theserviceseconomyandtourism(themeleaders:ProfessorJimDeeganandDrEoin
Reeves)
Entrepreneurship,innovationandmarketing(themeleaders:DrNaomiBirdthistleand
DrLisaOMalley)
Publicpolicy,enterprise,governanceandsustainability(themeleaders:DrHelena
LenihanandDrPhilipORegan)
22\\GraduateResearchatUL
Work, Knowledge and Employment
Thecoreresearchchallengeunderthisthemeistoinvestigatehowdeveloped
economies,particularlyIreland,canstrikeabalancebetweeneconomicandsocial
performanceinpromotingbestpracticethatenhancescompetitivenessand
productivitywhileconcurrentlyembracinggoodemploymentstandardsand
enhancinghumancapitalandpartnershipatwork.Irelandsstatusasasmallopen
economylendsitselftothecomparativeanalysisofbothemploymentrelationsand
practice.
Buildingonalong-establishedrecordofachievementinworkforcemanagement
researchandteachingatUL,thisresearchthemefocusesonworkplacelearning,
humanresourcedevelopmentandintellectualcapital;workdesign,workplace
relationsandemployeewellbeing;embeddingforeigndirectinvestment;strategic
humanresourcemanagementandbusinessperformance;andthepolitical
economyofworkplacerelationsandlabourmarkets.
The Services Economy and Tourism
Therationalefortheestablishmentofthisresearchthemeemergesfromthe
changingnatureofconsumptionandproductioninmodernsocieties.Atpresent,
overtwo-thirdsofthoseemployedinEuropeworkinservices(bothprivateand
public)andbetween60and70percentofGrossValueAddedinmostEuropean
statescanbeattributedtoservices.Thebroadareasforresearchincludetransport,
tourismandtravel,insurance,fnancialservices,educationalservices,legalservices,
businessandpublicservices.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Marketing
Irelandsgoalistodevelopanindigenousinnovation-driveneconomy.Toachieve
this,innovative,entrepreneurialandmarketing-relatedskillsandattitudesneed
tobenurtured.TheKBScontributestothisagendathroughitsresearchonsmall-
andmedium-sizedenterprises.Specifcresearchfociincludeinternationalisation,
familybusinesses,marketingstrategy,advertisingandconsumerresearch,new
productdevelopment,brandingandrelationshipmarketing.Theinterfacebetween
entrepreneurshipandpedagogyandbetweenmarketingandinnovationhas
alsoattractedsignifcantresearchattention.Scholarsareopentonewresearch
agendas,andemergingresearchiscurrentlyongoinginsocial,femaleandethnic
entrepreneurship,crisismanagement,high-growthfrms,metricsforinnovationand
marketing.
GraduateResearchatUL//23
Public Policy, Enterprise, Governance and Sustainability
Withinthistheme,thepublicpolicyfocusconcernsitselfwithindustrialand
economicdevelopmentissuesandpolicy,thesurvivalandgrowthoffrmsandthe
rolethatpublicpolicy(amongstotherfactors)playsinthisregard.Thereisalsoa
concernwithpublicpolicyevaluation,which,todate,hasbeenprimarilyappliedto
theevaluationofindustrialandenterprisepolicies.Thesearecomplementedby
ongoingresearchintothedisciplinaryanddistributiveconsequencesoftaxation
policy.Thefocusonenterpriseiskeytothethemegiventhatmuchoftheresearch
activityisoperationalisedattheleveloftheenterprise.
Thefocusongovernancerefectstheemergingimportanceofmatters
relatingtoregulation,corporategovernanceandprofessionalself-regulation.
Ongoingresearchactivityintheseareasembracerisk(includingpoliticalrisk)
andgovernance,behaviouranddynamicsofboardsofdirectors,regulatory
andlegislativecompliance,controlmechanismsinlargeandsmallfrmsand
corporatesocialresponsibility.Emphasisonnotionsofsustainabilityrefectsthe
emergenceofthistopicbothasanareaofdiscreteinterestandonethatoffers
interdisciplinarypossibilities.
research centres
CentreforEntrepreneurialStudies
CentreforInformationandKnowledgeManagement
Euro-AsiaResearchCentre
InternationalCentreforSustainableEnterprises
NationalCentreforTourismPolicyStudies
24\\GraduateResearchatUL
student funding
TheGraduateCentreofBusinessperiodicallyoffersresearchassistantshipsandstipends
toscholarsregisteringforpostgraduatedegreesbyresearchandthesis.TheKBSalso
offersthefollowingfull-timePhDscholarships:
EuropeanNetworkonIndustrialPolicy(EUNIP)/ULScholarship
InternationalManagementScholarship
KBSCentreforProjectManagementScholarship
KemmyBusinessSchoolScholarship
DepartmentofAccountingandFinanceScholarship
DepartmentofEconomicsScholarship
DepartmentofPersonnelandEmploymentRelationsScholarship
DrDaveMcKevittDoctoralScholarship(DepartmentofManagementandMarketing)
Detailedinformationoneachscholarshipisavailableatwww.ul.ie/business.
GraduateResearchatUL//25

nicolA lyncH / A Postgraduates experience

MynameisNicolaLynchandIaminthethirdyearofmyPhDin
Economics.IcompletedmyundergraduatestudiesandMBSinBusiness
EconomicsatUniversityCollegeCork.IfrstcametoULasaTeaching
Assistantin2002.Itwas,however,throughmyworkasaResearchAssistant
thatIdevelopedmyinterestinresearch.Myresearchprojectdevelops
frameworksforevaluatingtheimpactofbusinessnetworksinIreland.In
thefrstyearofmyresearchIwasawardedtheULRegistrarsscholarship
andwassubsequentlyawardedtheIRCHSSGovernmentofIrelandResearch
Scholarship(October07present).
TheKBShasastrongresearchprofleandprovidesgreatencouragementfor
researchstudents.Mysupervisor,DrHelenaLenihan,iswellknowninher
feldofresearchandprovidesgreatsupportandencouragement.Ihavehad
theopportunitytopresentmyresearchatbothnationalandinternational
conferencesandhavepublishedapaperinaninternationallypeer-reviewed
journal.Theseexperiencesaloneareimmenselyrewardingandmakeallthe
hardworkmorethanworthwhile.
26\\GraduateResearchatUL
Professor micHAel morley
GraduateResearchatUL//27
ProfessorMichaelMorleyisProfessorofManagementandHeadofthe
DepartmentofManagement&MarketingintheKemmyBusinessSchool.A
graduateoftheUniversityofLimerick,ProfessorMorleyhasbeenacareer
academicforover16years.HisearlierappointmentsatULincludejunior
lecturer,lecturerandseniorlecturerinhumanresourcemanagement.Hehas
alsopreviouslyservedasHeadoftheDepartmentofPersonnel&Employment
Relations,asAssistantDeanofResearchandasDirectoroftheGraduateCentre
ofBusiness.
ProfessorMorleyspublicationsrecordincludes18co-authored/co-editedbooks,
some50bookchaptersandmorethan70refereedjournalarticlesinpublications
suchastheJournalofWorldBusiness,AdvancesinInternationalManagement,
InternationalStudiesofManagement&Organization,ManagementDecision,
InternationalJournalofHumanResourceManagement,HumanResource
ManagementJournal,HumanResourceManagementReviewandCrossCultural
Management.Collaboratingwithanetworkof40businessschoolsthroughout
theworld,ProfessorMorleycontinuestoengageininternational,comparative
andcross-culturalstudiesofmanagement,leadershipandHRpractices.
ProfessorMorleyisassociateeditoroftheJournalofManagerialPsychology
andregionaleditoroftheEuropeanJournalofInternationalManagement.In
addition,heservesontheeditorialboardsofnineotherinternationaljournals,
includingInternationalJournalofCrossCulturalManagement,Leadershipand
OrganizationalDevelopmentJournal,InternationalJournalofStrategicChange
ManagementandInternationalJournalofEmploymentStudies.Heisthe
20072010ElectedChairoftheIrishAcademyofManagement(IAM),theleading
professionalassociationformanagementresearchandeducationontheisland
ofIreland.

science & engineering

faculty //
science & enGineerinG
Comprisingthefollowing10departments,theFacultyofScience&Engineeringisthe
largestfacultyinUL.
Architecture
Chemical&EnvironmentalSciences
ComputerScience&InformationSystems
Electronic&ComputerEngineering
LifeSciences
Manufacturing&OperationsEngineering
MaterialsScience&Technology
Mathematics&Statistics
Mechanical&AeronauticalEngineering
Physics
Thefacultysdepartmentscurrentlydelivertaughtandresearchpostgraduate
programmestoinexcessof1,000registeredpostgraduates,500ofwhomarepursuing
doctorateprogrammes.Theprimaryfocusisonincreasingthequalityandquantityof
postgraduatestudentsandresearchoutputs,includingPhDsandpublications.
Themainresearchobjectiveofthefacultyistoprovidearesearch-drivenenvironment
thatwillundertakebothfundamentalandappliedresearch.Promotingthepublication
ofresults,attractingnationalandinternationalresearchersanddevelopingfurther
collaborativelinkswithindustryarealsokeypriorities.
Theresearchinterestsofthefacultycoverawidespectrumofdisciplinesunderthe
umbrellaofthreestrategicresearchinstitutesMaterials&SurfaceScience(MSSI),
StokesInstituteandtheIrishSoftwareEngineeringResearchInstitute(Lero)andalarge
numberofresearchcentres,includingMACSI(MathematicsApplicationsConsortiumfor
ScienceandIndustry).Morerecently,amajoremphasishasbeenplacedonenergyand
sustainableenvironmentresearchundertheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI).
mAcsi - mathematics Applications consortium
for science and industry
TheMACSIindustrialmathematicsnetworkisthefrstofitskindinIrelandanetwork
ofmathematicalmodellersandscientifccomputationalanalystswhoseobjectives
include:
GraduateResearchatUL//29
Producingworld-classresearchandresearchtraininginmathematicalmodelling
Enablingindustrialcompaniestoimprovetheirproductsandprocessesthroughthe
applicationofcutting-edgemathematicalmodellingtechniques
Providinganoutreachprogrammetoschoolstudentstoraisetheirawarenessofthe
roleofmathematicsinmodernindustry
MACSIistheinitiationofanewerainIrishmathematics,whereappliedmathematicians
underpindevelopmentsinthephysical,biologicalandsocialsciences.Thegroupis
supportedbythelargestsinglegranteverawardedtomathematicsinIreland(4.34
millionfromtheSFIMathematicsInitiative).
charles Parsons initiative
TheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI)hasapproximately70researchersactiveinthe
areaofenergyandsustainableenvironmentandhasearnedmorethan20millionin
externalresearchfundingsince2004.Representingamergerofsixresearchcentresat
UL,CPIfocusesonresearchingenvironmentandsustainableformsofenergyacrossthe
areasofelectrochemistry;physics;electronic,mechanicalandaeronauticalengineering;
computerscience;mathematicsandstatistics;andaccountingandfnance.
CPIisconsideredtobealeadingplayerinEuropeintheareaofbiorefningandhasmade
signifcantprogressinthemodellingofnationalenergysystems.Thesethemesmatch
thekeystrengthsofCPIwiththeneedsoftomorrow,i.e.,theproductionoffuelsand
platformchemicalsfrombiomass;storagewhichiswidelyconsideredthekeyenabling
technologyforlarge-scalerenewableelectricitysystems;andintegratedmodellingof
electricity,heatandtransporttoenableinformeddecisionsontheprimaryscientifcand
engineeringchallengesofourtime.
Currentresearchactivitiesinclude:
Energygenerationusingrenewablenaturalresources(wind,solar,wave,ocean
current,hydro)
Bio-fuelsandadvancedconversion
Energyconservation,storage,energyeffciency
Environmentalsensors;thermal,emissions,gases,radiation,distributedenvironment
monitoring
Sustainabilityandenergy-relatedenvironmentalconsiderations
Life-cycleengineering
30\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//31

Aoife finnerAn / A Postgraduates experience

IcompletedaBEnginManagementEngineeringwithFrenchatNUI
Galway.Ergonomicsformedasubstantialpartofmyundergraduate
degree,andIdecidedIwouldliketocontinuemystudiesinthisarea.I
appliedtoULbecauseoftheergonomicsfacilitiesoncampusandthe
availabilityoffunding.Iwasspecifcallyinterestedinaprojectintheareaof
productivityandergonomics.
Musculoskeletaldisorders(MSDs),particularlythoseoftheupperlimb,
arehighlyprevalentinindustry.ImplicationsofMSDsforindustryinclude
costandlostwork
days.MSDsalso
haveimplicationsfor
productivity,notonly
becauseoflostwork
daysbutbecauseofthe
functionalincapacity
ofoperatorsasaresult
ofpainordiscomfort.
Myresearchproject
investigatesthe
relationshipbetween
painanddiscomfort
resultingfrom
MSDsandoperator
productivity.Itishoped
thatanergonomic
productivityassessment
toolwillbedeveloped
thatwillenablean
ergonomisttocomplete
productivityand
discomfortassessments
intandem.

ctHl Wilson / A Postgraduates experience

IamaPhDstudentin
theEnterpriseResearch
CentreintheEngineering
ResearchBuilding.Igraduatedfrom
ULwithadegreeinManufacturing
Engineeringin2005andam
currentlyfnishingmyPhDresearch.
IdecidedtostayonatULanddomy
PhDherebecauseofthesupervision
andsupportstructuresthatwere
availableoncampus.Itsalsoagreat
locationformeasitsagoodhalfway
pointbetweenmyindustrialcontacts
inCorkandtheMidlands.
IcurrentlyworkwithDrCon
SheahanaspartoftheEnterprise
PerformanceResearchGroup,which
isstudyingenterpriseperformance
measurementinsmallandmedium
enterprises.Myresearchisfundedby
athree-yearIRCSETscholarship.Ihadagoodknowledgeofmanufacturing
beforeIstartedmyPhD.Myparentsownandrunanindustrialheating
companyCeramicxIrelandLtd.basedinWestCorkandIvealsoactedas
acontractconsultantintheareaofproductivityimprovementwithAndona
ServicesLtd.basedinLongford.
ThetypeofresearchIamdoingmeansthatmydaysarevaried.Aspartof
myresearchIspendalotofmytimewithvariouson-sitecompanies.Ive
alsoactedasteachingassistantforanumberofmodulesintheDepartment
ofManufacturing&OperationsEngineering,andIrantheDrawingLearning
Centreforthreesemesters.In2007,withfellowstudentAndrewLynch,I
ranaone-dayworkshopthatbrought30companiestothecampus.Doing
postgraduateresearchgivesyouopportunitiestopublishtodateI
havepublishedsixconferencepapers,twojournalarticlesandsome
articlesforTechnologyIrelandMagazine.
32\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//33
dr mArtin J. leAHy
DrMartinJ.LeahyjoinedtheUniversityofLimerickin1997asaresearch
scientistwiththeDepartmentofMechanical&AeronauticalEngineering.He
iscurrentlyemployedasalecturerintheDepartmentofPhysicsandlectures
onthefollowingmodules:MedicalPhysics,MedicalInstrumentation,Physicsfor
Engineers,EnergyRatings,ExperimentalPhysics,andACCircuitsandDevices.In
addition,DrLeahy,teachesgraduatecoursesontissueopticsforphysicaland
lifescientistsandchairstheinternationalBiophotonicsandImagingGraduate
SummerSchool(BIGSS).
PriortocomingtoUL,DrLeahyworkedasaWellcomeTrustresearchassistantat
OxfordBrookesandasresearchfellowattheDepartmentofEngineeringScience
atOxfordUniversity.Withacolleague,heestablishedOxfordOptronixLtd.in
the1990stoexploitdevelopmentsinlaser-basedbloodfowandoxygenation
measurements,onwhichhisDPhilthesiswasbased.
DrLeahysresearchisalwaysappliedand,inadditiontoOxfordOptronixLtd.,has
sofarledtotheestablishmentofBiomassHeatingSolutionsLtd.,Millstream
EnergyLtd.andWheelsbridgeAB.Theimplicationsofthegrowingenergycrisis
anddwindlingfossilfuelreserveshavebeenrecognisedbytheUniversityof
LimerickwiththeestablishmentoftheCharlesParsonsInitiative(CPI)onenergy
andsustainableenvironment.DrLeahyiscurrentlyDirectorofCPI.CPIis
Irelandslargestresearchorganisationinthisarea.
DrLeahysinterestinbiophotonicsislargelyintheinteractionofvisibleand
infraredlightwithhumantissues.Historically,thishasbeenmanifestedin
thedevelopmentofinstrumentstomeasurebloodfow(laserDoppler)and
oxygenation(spectroscopy),whichhavefoundmanyapplicationsduetotherole
ofthemicrocirculationinallorgans.Morerecently,DrLeahysresearchgroup
hasbeencollaboratingwiththeUniversityofLinkpingonthedevelopmentofa
suiteofinstrumentsrelatedtotissueviabilityandskinaging.Thefrstofthese,
theTiViimager,isjustnowbecomingcommerciallyavailableviaWheelsbridge
AB.Itusesthetechniqueofpolarisationspectroscopyandapatentedimage
analysistechniquetoprovideanindexofredbloodcellconcentrationinthe
tissue.TwopostdoctoralresearchersandfourPhDstudentsareworkingonthese
themes,whicharecloselylinkedtoclinicalneed.Afurtherfvestudentsare
workingontheenergystoragetheme.

34\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//43
research
institutes
isks - tHe institUte for
tHe stUdy of knoWledGe
in society
TheInstitutefortheStudyofKnowledgeinSociety(ISKS)wasestablishedin2006
withtheobjectiveofbuildingonULsuniquereputationinIrelandforintegrated,
interdisciplinaryarts,humanitiesandsocialsciencesresearch.ISKScurrentlyhas47
associates,60PhDstudents,fourpostdoctoralfellowsandoneresearchscholar.ISKS
wasawarded2.5millioninPRTLI4foritsKnowledgeInterfacesproject.Researchersin
ISKSexamineknowledgeinsocietyinfourinterrelatedways:
Knowledge innovation:creatingnewknowledgebybringingdifferentdisciplinesand
groupstogether
Knowledge transfer:translatingacademicknowledgetoinformpolicymakersand
stakeholders
Knowledge about society:understandingtheconstructionanddisseminationof
knowledgebyandinsociety,withparticularemphasisonthecultural,political,
linguistic,historicalandlegalaspectsoftheseprocesses
Knowledge as an economic good:studyinghowknowledgeisdistributedand
experiencedinanIrishandaninternationalcontext
OriginallybasedintheFacultyofArts,Humanities&SocialSciences,ISKShasbecome
across-facultyinstituteservicingtheneedsofassociatesfromarangeofdiverse
disciplinesinallfourfacultiesoftheuniversity.AssociatesaredrawnfromtheSchoolof
Languages,Literature,CultureandCommunication;theGraduateEntryMedicalSchool;
thedepartmentsofSociology,Politics&PublicAdministration,History,Law,Computer
Science&InformationSystems,PhysicalEducation&SportSciences,Occupational
Therapy,Psychology,EconomicsandManagement&Marketing;andtheIrishWorld
AcademyofMusicandDance.
ResearchinISKSisorganisedaroundanumberofinterfaces,orthemes.Theseare
collaborative,interdisciplinary,thematicprojects,whichrefectkeyISKSpriorities(aligned
withUL,nationalandEUpriorities);providesupportandinfrastructureforprojectsand
applications;createsynergiesacrossdifferentdisciplines,facultiesandinstitutions;and
facilitateinteractionwithpolicymakers,communities,professionals,industryandother
stakeholders.
36\\GraduateResearchatUL
ThecurrentprogrammeinISKSincludesthefollowinginterfaces:
Shapingtechnology
Understandinghealth
Changingcommunication
Governanceandcitizenship
Modellingdevelopment
Culturalcohesionanddiversity
Understandingequality
ISKSisapartnerintheIrishSocialSciencesPlatform(ISSP),whichisfundedunderPRTLI
4.ISSPistheonlyall-islandplatformofintegratedsocialscienceresearchandgraduate
training;itfocusesonthesocial,culturalandeconomictransformationsshapingIreland
inthetwenty-frstcentury.OtherpartnersincludeNUIM(leadpartner),NUIG,DCU,UCC,
MIC,QUB,TCD,ITSandWIT.FormoreinformationonISSP,seewww.issplatform.ie.
ISKScurrentlyofferstwograduateeducationprogrammes(GREPS)orstructured
doctoralprogrammesoneinsocialsciencesandoneinappliedlanguages.These
four-yearintegratedprogrammesleadtotheawardofPhDandconsistofspecialised
academicmodules,genericmodulesandresearch.Specialistmodulesareundertakenin
years1and2,mostlyinUL,butmayalsobetakenatoneofourISSPpartnerinstitutions
inIrelandorabroad,asappropriate.Thesemodulesprovidepostgraduatestudentswith
specialistcontentandmethodologicaltrainingrelevanttotheirresearchprogramme.
Genericmodulesprovidepostgraduatestudentswiththeskillsnecessarytocomplete
theirresearchaswellastransferableskillstopreparethemfortheirworkinglives.
FormoreinformationonISKS,seewww.ul.ie/ISKS.

GraduateResearchatUL//37
lero - tHe irisH softWAre
enGineerinG reseArcH
centre
Lerowasestablishedin2005bysoftwareengineeringresearchersfromtheUniversity
ofLimerick(ULleadpartner),DublinCityUniversity(DCU),TrinityCollegeDublin(TCD)
andUniversityCollegeDublin(UCD).ItwasinitiallyfundedbyScienceFoundation
Ireland(SFI)undertheCentreforScienceEngineeringandTechnology(CSET)programme.
Lerosmissionistodeliverworld-leadingresearchinthoseareasofsoftwareengineering
thatsupportevolvingcriticalsystems.Lerosresearchagendaaddressesseveralcore
researchtopicsintheevolvingcriticalsystemsfeld.Thecentralresearchtopicisbuilding
softwarethatishighlyreliableandthatretainsitsreliabilityasitevolves.Leroenhances
thequalityandcompetitivenessoftheIrishsoftwareindustrythroughsharedprojects,
knowledgetransferandeducation.Lerosresearchersdeliverinternationallyrecognised
scientifcoutputs,publishinleadingjournalsandpresentatinternationalconferences
lero and industry
Softwareengineeringisanapplieddisciplineand,assuch,researchintheareamust
begroundedinpractice.Byusingresearchtomakebetterproductsinamoreeffective
manner,companiescangaincompetitiveadvantage.However,researchiscostlyand
time-consumingandmaynotyieldusefulresults.ThisiswhereLerocomesin.Leros
researchersworkcloselywithIrishindustrytoidentifykeytopicsandvalidateproposed
solutions.Lerowillassistpartnercompaniesinfndingfnancialsupportforjoint
researchinitiatives.
lero outreach and education
Lerorunsasuccessfuleducationandoutreachprogrammethataimstomakesoftware
engineeringand,inparticular,Leroresearchvisibleandaccessibleatsecond-andthird-
leveleducationinIreland.Lerohasdevelopedahighlysuccessfultransitionyear(TY)
computingmodulebasedonMITsScratchsoftwareincollaborationwithITTallaght
andCIOIreland.InpartnershipwiththeIrishComputerSociety,thematerialshavebeen
distributedtoallsecond-levelschoolsinIreland.Formoredetails,visitwww.scratch.ie.
LerohasestablishedtheLeroGraduateSchoolinSoftwareEngineering(LGSSE),which
providesastructuredPhDprogramme.Inaddition,atfourth-level,theoutreachand
educationprogrammeisconcernedwithorganisingeventsandprovidingservicesto
postgraduatestudentsandresearchers.Visitwww.lero.ieformoredetails.
38\\GraduateResearchatUL
dr Goetz botterWeck / senior research fellow
DrGoetzBotterweckisaseniorresearchfellowatLero.HereceivedhisMScin
ComputerScienceandInformationSystems(Diplom-Informatiker)andhisPhD
inComputerScienceattheUniversityofKoblenz-Landau,Germany.InMarch
2007DrBotterweckjoinedLero,wherehenowheadstheprojectonmodel-
drivenproductderivation.Hisresearchinterestsincludemodel-drivensoftware
engineering,userinterfaceengineeringandinformationsystemsengineering.
GraduateResearchatUL//39
LianpingChenisadoctoralresearcheratLero.Hereceivedamastersdegree
insoftwareengineeringfromNorthwesternPolytechnicalUniversity,
China.DuringhispostgraduatestudiesinChina,hespentoneyearasan
internatIBMChinaResearchLab,Beijing.Hisdoctoralresearchfocuseson
developingandevaluatingtechniquesandtoolsforarchitecturalknowledge
management.Lianpingisalsointerestedinimprovingtheuseofempirical
methodsforsoftwareengineeringresearch.
liAnPinG cHen / doctoral researcher
40\\GraduateResearchatUL
HeshamShokryisaPhDstudentatLero.HereceivedaBScinElectricaland
ComputerEngineeringfromAssiutUniversity,Egypt.Heshamsresearchfocuses
onapproachestodesigningandevaluatingdynamicsoftwarearchitectures
forembeddedsystems.BeforejoiningLero,Heshamworkedforthreeyears
asastaffsoftwareengineerwithIBM,developingsoftwaresystemsforthe
automotiveindustry.PriortojoiningIBM,hewasaresearchengineeratthe
AerospaceResearchCenter,agovernmentalinstituteinEgypt,wherehewas
involvedindevelopingavionicssoftwareandsimulationtools.

HesHAm sHokry / Phd student

GraduateResearchatUL//41
mssi - mAteriAls & sUrfAce
science institUte
TheMaterialsandSurfaceScienceInstitute(MSSI)istheleadingnationalinstitutein
materialsandisinternationallyrecognisedforitswork.MSSIhasgatheredtogether
facultymembersfromarangeofacademicdisciplines(materialsscience;physics;
chemistry;biochemistry;andelectronic,mechanical,biomedicalandaeronautical
engineering).MSSIutilisesthisinterdisciplinaryapproachtodevelopandcharacterise
materialsfromtheatomictothemacroscopicscale,providingnewmaterials,processes
andapplications.
MSSIisthelargestresearchinstituteintheuniversityandcurrentlyhousesover
220researchers.Theinstituteresidesinapurpose-builtbuildingthathousesa
comprehensiverangeofstate-of-the-artequipmentandfacilitiesforthesynthesisand
characterisationofmaterials.MSSIhasasignifcanttrackrecordinsolvingfundamental
researchproblemswithdirectapplicationinindustryandhascollaborativeresearch
programmeswithawiderangeofcompaniessuchasCookInc,Pfzer,RusalAughinish
Alumina,Merck,RocheandCrescentDiagnostics.MSSIcurrentlyhasover100active
collaborationswithresearchinstitutionsnationally,acrossEuropeandintheUS,China,
IndiaandAustralia.
TheresearchactivitiesofMSSIarefocusedonfourresearchthemes:nanomaterials,
biomaterials,compositeandglassmaterials,andbio/catalysisandcleantechnology.
Nanomaterials
Controlofmatteratthenanoscale(dimensionssub-100nm)isfundamentalto
arangeofmodernindustriesandinparticulartoelectronicsandphotonics.As
enhancementofmaterialanddeviceperformancethroughcontrolatthemicroscale
reachesitslimits,dramaticimprovementscanbeachievedthroughthesynthesis,
controlandorganisationofmaterialatthenanoscale.MSSIfocusesondeveloping
newmaterialsforsemiconductorandsolarcellapplications.
42\\GraduateResearchatUL
Biomaterials
Biomaterialsresearchisconcernedwiththedevelopmentofbiomimeticmaterials
inwhichin-vivodevicesfunctioninwaysthatmimictheorganortissuetheyare
replacingorsupplementing.Specifctargetareasfortheclusterareorthopaedics
andvascularrepairandreplacement,withanemphasisondevelopingmaterialsthat
enableregenerationoftissue.
Composite and Glass Materials
Compositematerialsareusedwidelyinlightweight,safety-criticalapplications,
suchasthosefoundinmodernaircraftstructures.Recently,theirusehasbroadened
intoarangeofapplicationsusedinbiomedicaldevicesandintheautomotiveand
constructionsectors.Ceramics,ceramiccompositesandglassesarealsousedas
biomaterialsandphotonicmaterials.Thecompositeandglassmaterialsclusteris
focusingonproducingmaterials,structuresanddeviceswithhighperformance,
maximumfunctionalityandminimalenvironmentalimpactduringproductionand
utilisation.
Bio/Catalysis and Clean Technology
Thisclusterfocusesonthedevelopmentofnewcatalystsandmethodsofproducing
materialsmoreeffectivelyandeffciently.Amajorprogrammehascommencedto
examinethemechanismbywhichcrystalsform.Thisisasignifcantchallengeanda
seriousissueinthepharmaceuticalsector,whichishighlyregulatedandwherethe
productionofpharmaceuticalingredientsintheincorrectformatcanbesignifcant
intermsofcostandwastedisposal.FormoredetailsonMSSI,visitwww.ul.ie/mssi.
GraduateResearchatUL//43
dr syed A. m. tofAil / senior research fellow
DrSyedA.M.TofailisaseniorresearchfellowatMSSI.DrTofailreceivedhisBScin
1996andMScin1999,bothinmetallurgicalengineeringfromtheDepartmentof
MaterialsandMetallurgicalEngineering,BangladeshUniversityofEngineering
andTechnology,Dhaka,Bangladesh.HewasalecturerattheDepartmentof
MaterialsandMetallurgicalEngineeringatBangladeshUniversityofEngineering
andTechnologypriortocomingtotheUniversityofLimerickin1999topursuehis
PhDattheDepartmentofPhysics.HecompletedhisPhDin2002andjoinedMSSI
asapostdoctoralfellowbeforetakinguphiscurrentpositionasaseniorresearch
fellowin2006.
DrTofailsresearchinterestisinthephysicalpropertiesofmaterialswithaspecifc
focusonbiomaterialsandsurfaces.In2005,hediscoveredthathydroxyapatite,
themainmineralcontentofboneandteeth,hadpiezoelectricproperties,which
mayhaveimplicationsforthedevelopmentofnewboneimplants.Whileheis
activelypursuingresearchinthisarea,DrTofailhasalsocommencedresearch
projectsinthemodellingandcharacterisationofmaterialsandcurrentlyleadsa
researchgroupinthisfeld.
Since2005,thegrouphasreceivedover 0.4millioninfundingfromEnterprise
Irelandforresearchworkwithhydroxyapatiteandnitinol.DrTofailisProjectCo-
ordinatorforBIOELECTRICSURFACE,aEuropeanCommissionFP7project.Project
partnersincludenineotherEuropeanagenciesaswellasNUIGalwayandIrish
companiesBeoCareandCookMedical.Theprojectwilladdresstheinteractionsof
biologicalspecieswiththesurfacesofmedicaldevices.Theprojectteamintends
todevelopnanotechnology-derivedtextilesthatwillhelphospitalsintheirfght
againstMRSA.
44\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//45
dArrAGH GAffney / Phd student
DarraghGaffneyisaPhDstudentatMSSI.HereceivedaBScinChemistry
fromUCDin2005.WhileattendingUCD,Darraghcompleteda12-weekUREKA
placementintheresearchlaboratoryofDrPeterRutledgeand,afterreceiving
hisdegree,workedintheresearchlaboratoryofProfessorDonaldFitzmauricefor
ninemonths.HethenmovedtotheUniversityofLimerickafterapplyingfora
PhDposition.Darraghwasveryimpressedwiththeuniversityasawhole.Not
onlywasMSSIequippedwithcutting-edgetechnologybuttherewasatangible
buzzabouttheplacethatwasgeneratedfromthemultidisciplinaryresearchers
locatedthere.
Darraghscurrentprojectdealswiththetailoredadsorptionofenzymesonto
mesoporoussilicatesforthegenerationofbiocatalysts.Atypicaldayisspent
workinginthelaboratoryandtroubleshootinganyproblemsthatarise,aswellas
usingarangeofinstrumentationtocharacterisesamples.Duringtheacademic
year,aportionoftheweekisallocatedtodemonstratingandteachingto
undergraduatestudents.Darraghsproject,whichisfundedbySFI,hasgivenhim
theopportunitytotraveltointernationalconferencesfromwhichcollaborations
withotheruniversitieshavearisen.
dr Grinne cArroll / Postdoctoral research fellow
DrGrinneCarrollcurrentlyworksasabiomedicalengineeringpostdoctoral
researchfellowatMSSI.GrinneoriginallycametoULin1999tostudyBEng
MechanicalEngineering.Shewasintroducedtotheconceptofbiomedical
engineeringontheprogramme,whichcombinedherinterestinengineeringand
biology.WhilecompletingherfnalyearprojectunderthesupervisionofProfessor
TimMcGloughlin,Grinnerealisedthatshehadastronginterestinresearch
anddecidedtoapplyforpostgraduatepositionsinthebiomedicalengineering
feld.ShejoinedtheCentreforAppliedBiomedicalEngineeringResearch(CABER)
inMSSI.HerPhDprojectincorporatedengineeringandbiologybynumerically
investigatingbloodfowwithinthevenoussystemfordialysispatientsand
subsequentlyanalysingtheregulationofendothelialcellgenesbybloodfow.
DuringhertimeasapostgraduatestudentatUL,Grinnewasabletoavail
ofanumberofopportunities,whichincludedpresentingherworktoother
biomedicalengineersathomeandabroad.Internationaltripsincludedtravelling
toMunichfortheWorldCongressofBiomechanicsandtoColoradoandFlorida
fortheAmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineersSummerBioengineering
Conference.Notonlydothesetripsprovidestudentswithachancetodevelop
theirpresentationskillsbuttheyalsointroducethemtotheinternational
bioengineeringworld.Throughtheseconferences,studentscanmakecontacts
withinthebiomedicalengineeringfeld,whichwillhopefullyopendoorsforthem
whentheycompletetheirpostgraduatestudies.
UponcompletionofherPhDinJanuary2008,GrinneappliedtotheFSScience
ChallengeProgramme.UnderthisprogrammeshewenttoDukeUniversity,North
Carolina,wheresheconductedfurtherbiomedicalengineeringresearchunder
ProfessorMortonFriedman.
46\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//47
stokes institUte
TheStokesInstituteisamulti-disciplinaryteamofengineersandscientistsworkingon
solutionstochallengesinthemostadvancedfeldsofhumanendeavour.Itsmissionis
two-fold:graduateeducationandscholarship;andinnovationleadingtothecreation
ofenterprise.Stokesscurrentresearchportfoliofocusesonthreeapplicationareas:ICT,
aeronauticsandlifescienceresearch/moleculardiagnostics.
Information & Communications Technologies (ICT)
Thermalmanagementtechnologies:interfacematerials;two-phaseheat
spreaders;fansandactiveheatsinks;lowproflecoolingtechniques;single-phase
liquidcooling
Energymanagementfromsilicontoambientinlarge-scalecomputingand
communicationsfacilities
Energyharvestingfromvibrationalandthermalsources
Reliabilityphysicsofelectronicinterconnectionandpackaging:hygro-thermo-
mechanicalanalysis;corrosionscience;shockandvibrationtesting;failureanalysis;
andreliabilitystatistics
Aeronautics
Fundamentalsofaerodynamics,includingboundarylayertransitiontoturbulence
Heattransferinaircraftstructuresandcompositematerials
Energyeffciency/entropygenerationinfuidsystems
Life Science Research/Molecular Diagnostics
Microfuidics-basedsystemsforgeneticanalysis
TheStokesInstituteisbasedinacustom-builtresearchspacewithinULsEngineering
ResearchBuilding.Ithasasuiteoflaboratoriesthatarecomprehensivelyequipped
forexperimentationandsimulationonfuidmechanics,heatandmasstransfer,
andmaterialsphenomena.ItalsohasaccesstoULsstate-of-the-artmaterials
characterisationfacilities.
Stokessresearcherspublishprolifcallyandpresentfrequentlyatinternational
conferencesandmeetings.TheInstitutehasanexcellentreputationforitsgraduate
educationithasagrowingalumni,manyofwhomhaveprogressedtohigh-level
careersinindustryandacademia.
Stokesparticipatesstronglyingovernmental,Europeanandindustrially-fundedresearch.
Ithasfosteredparticularlydeeppartnershipswithacademia,researchorganisationsand
industry,suchasJointResearchCentre,BellLaboratories,Airbus,Nokia,BartsHospital,
USDepartmentofEnergyandHewlett-Packard.Inparticular,Stokespridesitselfon
thecreationofenterprisethroughspin-outcompanies(StokesBioLtd.)andtechnology
licenses(AMD,AsiaVitalComponents,Henkel).Forfurtherdetails,visitwww.stokes.ie.
48\\GraduateResearchatUL
cilliAn bUrke / A Postgraduates experience
DuringmyMechanicalEngineeringundergraduatestudiesatUL
Iwasintroducedtotheworldofengineeringresearchthroughasummer
placementwiththeStokesInstitute.Iworkedonlaser-basedvibrometry
techniquestoexaminethemechanicalresponseofelectronicassemblies,
complementingskillsthatIdevelopedonanine-monthcooperativeeducation
placementatAnalogDevicesinLimerick.MytimeattheInstitutealsogave
greatpracticalapplicationformanyskillslearnedthroughoutmystudiesinUL
andafoundationformyfnalyearprojectaninvestigationofthereliabilityof
threenewly-developedsoldermaterialsunderharshvibrationenvironments.I
graduatedwithafrstclasshonoursdegreein2008.
MyexperiencesofresearchinspiredmetoapplyforanIRCSETscholarship
tostudyatStokes,andmyapplicationwassuccessful.Myresearchfocuses
onadvancedpackagingtechnologiesforMicroElectroMechanicalSystems
(MEMS),devicesthatareusedextensivelyinmodernelectronicssuchas
mobilephones.MyworkisbeingconductedinclosecollaborationwithAnalog
Devices.Iamcurrentlydevelopinganoveltestfacilitytocharacterisethe
mechanicalpropertiesofglassfritsealingmaterialsforMEMS.
Postgraduateresearchworkischallengingandveryrewarding.Myprojecthas
beenenhancedthroughtheexperiencedguidanceofmysupervisoratStokes
andthecloseindustriallinkswithAnalogDevices.Ihavealreadyhad
theopportunitytopresentmyresearchataninternational
conferenceintheUS,andIhaverecentlygivenaninvitedtalkat
AnalogsR&DfacilityinBoston.

GraduateResearchatUL//49
dr ryAn enriGHt / Postdoctoral research fellow
OncompletionofhisBEng(Hons)degree
inMechanicalEngineeringatULin2004,
RyanenrolledasaPhDscholaratthe
StokesInstitute.Hisresearch,fundedby
theSFI-fundedCTVRTelecommunications
programme,investigatedsuperhydrophobic
surfacesforthermalmanagement
applications.Aconsiderableportionofhis
dissertationworkwasperformedatBell
Laboratories,MurrayHill.
OncompletionofhisPhDin2008,hetookup
apostdoctoralpositionwiththeCTVRatUL
tocontinuehisresearch.Inmid2009,Ryan
wasawardedanINSPIRE:IRCSET-MarieCurie
InternationalMobilityFellowshiptoworkat
MITsDeviceResearchLaboratory,aposition
thatfeaturescontinuedcollaborationwith
Stokes.Ryanscurrentresearchinterestsare
intheareasofsurfacewettability,micro-scale
transport,andthermalmanagementfornext-
generationtelecommunicationsequipment.

50\\GraduateResearchatUL
GraduateResearchatUL//63
Graduates
GrAdUAtes
life after your Phd
Traditionally,themajorityofpostgraduatestudentsmovedfromPhDstudyinto
academiaandteaching.Today,however,asthenumberofstudentscontinuingtofourth
levelhasincreased,sotoohasthediversityofgraduateemployment.
Realisingthatthefutureofmanypostgraduatestudentswillfalloutsidethetraditional
route,theGraduateSchoolatULoffersavarietyoffreecoursesintransferableskills
toresearchstudents.Thesecoursesofferstudentstheopportunitytoincreasetheir
knowledgeinavarietyofareas,suchasprojectmanagement,communicationand
presentationtechniques,ITskills,teambuildingandcareermanagement.
ULalsooffersadedicatedcareerssupportservicetoresearchstudents.Afull-time
careersadvisorisavailabletomeetwithpostgraduatesonaone-to-onebasisto
covertopicssuchascareeroptions,employmentopportunities,jobsearchstrategies,
applicationsandinterviews.InconjunctionwiththeGraduateSchool,thepostgraduate
careersadvisordeliversasuiteoftrainingworkshopstohelppostgraduatesidentifyand
provideevidenceoftheirtransferableskills.Careersfairsandemployerbriefngsare
organisedthroughouttheacademicyearandofferstudentstheopportunitytodiscuss
theircareeropportunitiesandinterestsdirectlywithpotentialfutureemployers.In
addition,theCareersServiceliaiseswithboththeGraduateSchoolandtheInternational
EducationDivisiontodeliveraninformationseminaronWorkinginIrelandfor
InternationalStudents.
research careers
ThecareeropportunitiespursuedbyULresearchgraduatesisevidenceofthediversity
inboththerangeofsubjectareaexpertiseandtransferableskillsofourresearch
postgraduates.The2008graduatesurveydemonstratesanexcellentemployment
recordforPhDgraduatesthesurveyshowedthatover83%ofgraduatesmoveddirectly
intoemploymentacrossallsectors,includinghighereducationresearch,academia,
publicsector,consultancyandindustry.Salarylevelsvaryamongresearchstudents
averagesalariesrangefrom32,000to44,000perannum,dependingonthesector
ofemploymentandnatureofthejob.
ULoffersresearchstudentstheopportunitytodevelopexcellentacademicresearchskills
andexpertiseaswellasexpandingontheirpersonalandprofessionaltrainingtobest
positionthemselvesforawidevarietyofcareeropportunitiesupongraduation.
52\\GraduateResearchatUL
Ul research Graduates
dr Helen mcQUillAn / Postdoctoral researcher
HelenMcQuillanwasrunningarestaurantbusinessinEnnisin1992whenshesaw
anadvertisementinherlocalnewspaperforpostgraduatecoursesinUL.Joiningthe
WomensStudiescourse,shegraduatedwithanMAin1994andaPhDin2006.
HeleniscurrentlyworkingasapostdoctoralresearcherintheCentreforSocialand
EducationalResearchinDIT.Herresearchisfocusedondigitalinclusion,young
peopleandnewmedia,andgenderandtechnology.Despitebeingaself-confessed
technophobewhenshejoinedUL,amoduleonTechnology,InnovationandSocial
Changesetherresearchinterestsandhercareerinadirectionshecouldneverhave
envisaged.WhileshewasdoingherPhDsheworkedasresearchmanagerfortwomajor
ICTprogrammes:theEnnisInformationAgeTownProjectinIrelandandtheLocale-
GovernmentProgrammeinEngland.Withuniqueinsightintocommunityengagement
withICT,HelenhasworkedasanadvisortoEU,IrishandUKgovernmentsone-inclusion
policy.Shenowworkswithmanycommunitytechnologyprojects,includingDITsDigital
CommunityprogrammeandLimerickCitysCommunityICTprogramme.
dr dAVid collinGs / senior lecturer
DavidCollingsisaseniorlecturerininternationalmanagementatNUIGalway.Heisa
graduateoftheBBS,MBS(HumanResourceManagement)andPhDprogrammeatUL.
AftercompletinghisPhDDrCollingsjoinedthefacultyattheUniversityofSheffelds
ManagementSchoolintheUK.Hehaspublishedwidelyintheareaofhumanresource
management.HisworkhasappearedinleadingjournalssuchasHumanResource
Management,JournalofWorldBusiness,InternationalJournalofHumanResource
Management,HumanResourceManagementReview,andinanumberofchaptersin
researchmonographsandtextbooks.Hehaseditedsixbooks,themostrecentofwhich
isHumanResourceManagement:ACriticalApproachwithGeoffWood(Routledge
2009).DrCollingsiscurrentlyeditoroftheHumanResourceManagementJournaland
IrishJournalofManagement.
IcannotrecommendthePhDprogrammeattheKemmyBusinessSchoolhighly
enough.MystudiesweresupervisedbyProfessorsPaddyGunnigleandMikeMorley,
whoaretwooftheleadingscholarsinthefeldofinternationalHRM,notonlynationally
butinternationally.Thekeybeneftsoftheprogrammeincludedthepersonalattention
studentsreceivedfromtheirsupervisionteam,theresearchculturewithintheKemmy
GraduateResearchatUL//53
BusinessSchool,thetop-qualityfacilitiesandtheworld-classfaculty.ThefactthatI
gainedapermanentfacultypositioninoneoftheUKsleadingmanagementschools
attheUniversityofSheffeldbeforeevenhavinggraduatedfromtheprogrammeis
testamenttotheinternationalreputationwhichtheUniversityofLimerickandthe
KemmyBusinessSchoolenjoyinternationally.ThePhDprogrammeattheKemmy
BusinessSchoolmostcertainlyprovidedmewithaverysolidfoundationforacareer
inacademia,andIwouldrecommenditwithoutreservationtoanyoneconsidering
pursuingaPhDinHRMorinternationalmanagementmoregenerally.
dr tom comyns / strength & conditioning coach
MyPhDresearch,whichwasfundedbytheIrishRugbyFootballUnionandEnergia,
focusedonappliedstrengthandconditioningtrainingmethods.Itlookedathowto
effectivelycombineweighttrainingandplyometric( jump)trainingtoenhancethe
powertrainingofIrishrugbyplayers.SincecompletingmyPhDinMay2006,Ihavebeen
workingasstrengthandconditioningcoachwithMunsterrugbyandtheIRFU.Ichose
thiscareerpathbecauseitwasadirectfollow-onfrommyappliedresearchandhas
providedmewiththeopportunitytoapplymyresearchfndingstoimprovethequality
oftheMunsterrugbyplayersstrengthandpowertraining.
dr AbiGAil mAckey / Postdoctoral research fellow
TheprojectscarriedoutaspartofmyPhDinULwerefocusedonmonitoringthe
responseofmuscletodifferentexercisechallenges.Themainaspectofthisresearch
wasdocumentingthechangesintheconnectivetissuestructureswithinthemuscle.
Theworkwasperformedonbloodandmusclesamplesfromhealthyyoungmenand
women,andthefndingswerepublishedinpeer-reviewedjournals.
SoonaftercompletingmyPhDin2003,ImovedtotheInstituteofSportsMedicine,
Copenhagenforatwo-yearpost-docposition,whereIamnowpermanentlyemployed.
MymainjobhereistocarryoutexperimentsaswellastoeducatePhDstudentsin
methodsrequiredfortheirownanalyses.TheworkIdoinDenmarkiscloselyrelated
tomyresearchinULfromthepointofviewoflaboratorymethodsaswellasbuilding
ontheknowledgebaseestablishedatthattime.WhileIcantsaythatIeversetoutto
purposelypursueacareerinresearch,IcansaythatbeingwhereIamtodayisduetoa
combinationoffactors,i.e.choosingworkthatIenjoyandthathasgoodprospects,and
choosingoptionsthatwereopentomeatvariousstagesofmycareerpath.
54\\GraduateResearchatUL
dr ronAn skeHill & dr iAn rice / entrepreneurs
InNovember2009,CauwillTechnologiesLtd.wasawardedtheBest-EmergingCompany
byIntertradeIrelandintheSeedcorncompetitionandscooped100,000.Thecompany
wasfoundedin2009byRonanSkehillandIanRice.Thecompanysproduct,PinPoints,is
asmartweb-mobiletechnologythatreachesintosat-navsandprogramsthemforend
users.Cauwillssoftwareandservicesaresoldtothetravelindustry,andthecompanyis
currentlyfocusingontheonlinehotelbookingenginesegmentofthemarket.
BothgraduatescompletedtheirPhDsunderthesupervisionofDrSeanMcGrathin
theWirelessAccessResearchCentreatUL.Duringtheirresearchtheysecuredan
EnterpriseIrelandProof-of-Conceptproject,whichfocusedonlocation-basedservices
andextendingthetechnologytomobileplatforms.Theresearchanddevelopment
conductedduringtheprojectformedthefoundationsofacommercialandpatented
pieceoftechnology,whichultimatelyledtothecreationofCauwillTechnologiesLtd,the
spin-outcompany.

GraduateResearchatUL//67
How to
Apply
Applying for Postgraduate research
Theminimumentryrequirementtoapostgraduateresearchdegreeisanhonours
primarydegree(level8asdefnedbytheNationalQualifcationsAuthorityofIreland)
withaminimumclassifcationofa2:1or2:2.Individualfacultiesorresearchcentresmay
havespecifcentryrequirements.
Thefrststepinapplyingforagraduateresearchpositionistoidentifyapotential
supervisorandproject.Up-to-dateinformationonresearchactivitiesinfaculties,
departmentsandresearchcentresisavailableontheULwebsite:www.ul.ie.Atthis
stageyoushouldalsotrytoidentifypossiblesourcesoffunding.
Onceyouhaveidentifedasupervisorandproject,youshouldcompletearesearch
applicationformandsubmitittothePostgraduateAdmissionsOffce.Application
formsareavailablefromwww.graduateschool.ul.ie.ULacceptsresearchapplications
throughouttheyear.
international Applicants
Inadditiontotheminimumentryrequirementsspecifedabove,internationalapplicants
areadvisedtomeetthefollowingstandardEnglishlanguagerequirements:
IELTSscoreof66.5andnotlessthan6inanyonecomponentforentrytotheFaculty
ofScience&Engineeringandacompositescoreintherangeof6.57andnotlessthan
6inanyonecomponentforentrytotheFacultiesofArts,Humanities&SocialSciences,
Education&HealthSciencesandtheKemmyBusinessSchool.
Informationonvisas,immigration,accommodationandinsuranceisavailableonthe
GraduateSchoolwebsite:www.graduateschool.ul.ie.
fees
Anup-to-datescheduleoffeesisavailabletodownloadfromwww.graduateschool.ul.ie
GraduateResearchatUL//57
funding
Fundingforpostgraduateresearchisavailablefromavarietyofsources.Individual
facultiesatULmayofferscholarshipsorfundedpositionswhileexternalfundingis
availablefromIrishandinternationalresearchcouncils,otherpublicbodiesandthe
privatesector.ThetwomainresearchcouncilsinIrelandaretheIrishResearchCouncil
forScience,EngineeringandTechnology(IRCSET)andtheIrishResearchCouncilfor
HumanitiesandSocialSciences(IRCHSS).Localauthorityfundingisalsoavailableto
researchstudents.
for further information contact:

Postgraduate Admissions Offce

Graduate School
University of Limerick
E: postgradadmissions@ul.ie
T: +353 61 23 43 77
58\\GraduateResearchatUL
Front cover: The Living Bridge, University of Limerick
The 350 metre long pedestrian bridge is one of the most innovative and
impressive pieces of architecture on campus. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre
Architects, London and built by Eifel Construction Metallique, the bridge
connects the north and south banks of the university campus.
The bridge includes four platforms, which are designed to accommodate
social gatherings, informal teaching sessions, music and dance performances
as well as a wide array of educational, social and cultural activities.
Photographs: Eoin Stephenson, Rumhann Howard-Hildige
Ollscoil Luimnigh, Luimneach, Lire
UniversiIy oI Limerick, Limerick, lreland
GuIhan / 1elephone: + 6 zoz)oo
lacs / lacsimile: + 6 o 6
Grasan / Web: www.ul.ie
1he in[crmcticn rcntcineJ in this brcrhure is tc the best c[ cur lncwleJqe true cnJ crrurcte ct the time c[ publircticn cnJ is sclely [cr
in[crmcticncl purpcses. lt shculJ nct be vieweJ cn the bcsis c[ c rcntrcrt between c stuJent cnJ the University. Nc qucrcntee is qiven
thct rcurse syllcbuses, [ees cr requlcticns mcy nct be cltereJ rcnrelleJ cr ctherwise cmenJeJ ct cny time.
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