This is a collection of interviews with some of the researchers in the Dublin Institute of Technology. By collecting these voices we hope to, over time, demonstrate the wide range of the research activity within DIT and preserve the recordings as a historical record of those who contributed to the growth of knowledge.
-
Professor Hugh J. Byrne
Hugh Byrne
Head of Focas Research Institute
Biography
Professor Hugh J. Byrne is the Head of the Focas Research Institute, DIT. He has over 25 years experience in research science and has published over 250 peer reviewed journal and conference papers.He has been responsible for over €20 million in funded projects, including PRTLI Cycles 1,4 and 5 an well as SFI, EI and EU projects and has over 15 years of experience in the management and development of research infrastructure. He has supervised over 25 PhD students.
Received his Bachelor of Arts (moderatorship) degree in Experimental Physics, from Trinity College Dublin in 1985.
His doctoral research was in Experimental Physics ane he received his Ph.D from Trinity College Dublin in 1989. He went on to hold a postdoctoral research fellowship in Physics Department, Trinity College Dublin from October 1989- April 1991. Research Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart, from April 1991-July 1995, funded in part by a Marie-Curie Fellowship.Visiting Research Scientist at the National Institute of Materials and Chemistry Research, Tsukuba, Japan, October 1995- January 1996.
Appointed to staff of DIT in January 1996, as lecturer in the School of Physics. Seconded as manager of FOCAS at DIT in 2000.
Principle research interests are in applications of spectroscopy and the study of molecular and nano-materials. Recent activities have extended to biospectroscopy for diagnostics and biochemical analysis and nano-bio interactions.
-
Doctor Cliona Doris
Cliona Doris
Clíona Doris is Head of Orchestral Studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. She is a graduate of The Queen's University of Belfast and Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, where she studied with the acclaimed harpist, Susann McDonald. She graduated with the Doctor of Music Degree in Harp Performance and Music Literature from Indiana University.
Clíona has extensive experience as a soloist and chamber musician and has performed throughout Ireland, Britain, Europe and the United States. Her broadcasts include performances on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Ulster, RTÉ LyricFM, National Public Radio USA, ClassicFM TV, UTV, BBC Television and RTÉ Television. In 2005, she was the soloist at the BBC Proms in the Park from Belfast, which was broadcast as part of the BBC Last Night of the Proms.
An active exponent of contemporary music, Clíona has premiered works by Elaine Agnew, Enda Bates, Linda Buckley, Donnacha Dennehy, Jason E. Geistweidt, Philip Hammond, Brian Irvine, Deirdre McKay, Neil Martin and Ian Wilson. Her latest CD, a pale yellow sky released on the RTÉ lyricfM label, features contemporary music by Irish composers. Other recordings include in blue sea or sky, a solo CD on the Riverrun Label and a performance of Handel’s Harp Concerto with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra recorded for the RTÉ lyricfm label.
She was Chairman of the Ninth World Harp Congress Dublin 2005 and is on the Board of Directors of Music Network, the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland (Chair), Music Generation: National Music Education Programme and the World Harp Congress.
-
Doctor Aidan Duffy
Aidan Duffy
Dr. Aidan Duffy is a lecturer in the School of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology. Prior to that, he worked for a number of years in consultancies in building materials durability, low energy building design and combined heat and power design. From 2001-2005 he was the managing director of Willis Risk Management, a risk management consultancy providing environmental and health and safety services to the construction sector. He holds a primary degree and a Ph.D. in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and a Masters in Business Administration from the Open University. His current research interests include modelling renewable energy demand and supply systems, life cycle assessment and embodied energy estimation and energy policy.
-
Professor Fiona Lyng
Fiona Lyng
Dr. Lyng is the manager of the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre in DIT.
She obtained a BSc (Physics and Chemistry, 1st Class honours) from Trinity College Dublin / Dublin Institute of Technology in 1991. PhD (Radiation Biology / Electron Microscopy) in 1995 from University College Dublin. Worked at Michigan State University as part of PhD studies. Postdoctoral fellowship (awarded by the Ernst Schering Research Foundation) at the Synchrotron Radiation Department, Daresbury Laboratory, UK, from 1995 to 1998, studying cell signalling pathways by unique microscopical techniques utilising synchrotron radiation. Also deputy station manager of the confocal microscopy facility at Daresbury Laboratory which involved the training of users and upgrading and maintaining the facility. Worked at the Cellular Physiology Research Unit in University College Cork from 1998 to 1999 continuing research from Daresbury Laboratory and commissioning and training users on a Bio Rad MRC 1024 confocal microscope. Awarded a DIT postdoctoral fellowship in 1999 and an Arnold Graves Fellowship in 2000. RESC Centre Manager since 2003 with responsibility for approx. 12 postgraduate students and 4 postdoctoral researchers. Currently PI on 5 grants and over 75 peer reviewed publications. Have supervised 13 PhD projects and 2 MPhil projects to completion. Awarded Honorary Professorship of DIT, Feb 2012.
Current research interests are in non-targeted effects of ionisng and non ionising radiation: genomic instability (heritable damage in the distant progeny of irradiated cells) and the bystander effect (release of a signal by irradiated cells that can affect unexposed cells). Also interested in the use of vibrational spectroscopy for disease diagnosis.
-
Professor Mary MacNamara
Mary MacNamara
Professor Mary McNamara graduated with a honours degree from the Royal Society of Chemistry and a PhD in Physical Inorganic Chemistry from University College Dublin. As Head of Graduate Research programmes at DIT, she administers the academic guidelines and regulations of the Institute in relation to postgraduate research awards. She is the guarantor of graduate research quality assurance and also works with the schools and colleges at DIT in the development of structured PhD programmes. Dr McNamara is also the Head of Research for the College of Sciences and Health at the Dublin Institute of Technology and helps to develop and implement strategies, policies and procedures for growing research in each School (Biological Sciences, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computing, Food Science & Environmental Health, Mathematical Sciences and Physics). Dr McNamara is project manager for the recently established Environmental Health Sciences research institute at the Dublin Institute of Technology which is a unique higher education – business alliance involving Dublin City Council and Ireland’s Health Service Executive as partners.