News and events
2022-23
- Professor Emeritus Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry R.I.P.
- Athena SWAN Silver Award for the School of Chemistry
- Cocker Lab achieves Green Certification
- Excellence in Research Awards for Prof. Mathias Senge and Dr John O'Donoghue
- Professor Thorri Gunnlaugsson awarded the ICI David Brown prize
- Ireland's Highest Academic Honour for Prof. Michael Lyons
- Congrats to EAMC Competition Participants
- Portrait of Prof. Emeritus Brian McMurry unveiled in the Senior Common Room
- Inaugural Lecture of Professor Sylvia Draper
- Congratulations to our new Scholars!
- PhD Positions available
- BOC Gases Bursary Awards
- CDT PhD Programme open for applications
- Assistant Professor Colm Delaney (School of Chemistry) wins prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant
- Sun-Pilot Project led by Prof. Parvaneh Mokarian featured in CORDIS EU
- Partnership for the Future Program funding obtained by Prof. Paula Colavita (TCD) and Dr Suresh Pillai (Atlantic Technological University)
- Partnership for the Future Program funding obtained by Prof. Mathias Senge (TCD) & Dr Mikhail Filatov (TUD)
- 2022 SFI Best International Engagement Award for Prof. Mick Morris
- Dr. Deirdre McAdams wins Postgraduate Teaching award 2021
- Workshop On "The Chemistry of Cosmetics"
- Prof. Valeria Nicolosi features on the Clarivate annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2022 list.
- School of Chemistry November Vivas
- Class of 2022 Graduation
- PhD Vacancy in the School of Chemistry
- Boland Group runners up in SFI Plastics Challenge
- Saying farewell to Teresa McDonnell
- Chemistry Workshops at the Ploughing Championships
- School of Chemistry welcomes Prof. Chris Batchelor-McAuley
- Outreach Workshops at Dublin Maker
Professor Emeritus Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry R.I.P.
We in the School of Chemistry were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Professor Emeritus Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry last week.
Speaking at the Funeral, Brian’s long- time friend and colleague, Peter Boyle said:
“We have lost a Colleague, we have lost a friend. We have lost one who dedicated the whole of his life to Trinity and its Chemistry department. One who will be remembered with gratitude by generations of students who studied under him, and who owe him an enormous debt.”
Brian indeed had a long and illustrious professional career which was spent mostly at Trinity College. After being elected to scholarship as an undergraduate student in 1951, he was elected to college fellowship during Trinity Week in 1959. The same year he became one of the youngest members ever of the Royal Irish Academy – the highest academic honour Ireland has to offer.
In an article to mark his 60 years as a Trinity College Fellow, Brian remembered the day of his election – Trinity Monday, 1959 as well as the events of the rest of that week:
“There were two Fellows elected in 1959. Bill Wright, Professor of Engineering, and myself. The small numbers were typical of the time. We were the first Fellows required to retire at seventy. Had I been elected the previous year, I could in theory still be a Senior Fellow!
There was a longstanding tradition that new Fellows were not in Front Square to hear their names read out. In earlier years, they would not have known whether they had been elected or not. I had known beforehand, but I followed the old tradition. It did not last much longer, but I cannot remember who the first person to break it was. Instead I followed a Chemistry tradition and went out to Johnston, Mooney, and O’Briens Café and Restaurant in South Leinster Street to buy ‘cream buns’ for 11am coffee.
In 1959, Trinity Week started a week after Trinity Monday. The Regatta at Island Bridge was held on the Saturday before. The week itself was much more structured back then. There were hockey and cricket matches between present and past members of the clubs. The Elizabethan Society held a Garden Party in the Provost’s Garden, where the ladies showed off the latest fashion and tickets for this were highly valued by the male students!
On the Wednesday, there were the College Races. The President turned up, was formally greeted by the Provost. The Garda No1 Band played the Presidential Salute, and then entertained everybody with light classics. Strawberries and cream were served to the platform party and judges and spectators alike wore formal morning dress. I remember the judges: Jacky Wallace, the College doctor, Willy Pearson, the acerbic Professor of Surgery, Harry Booker from the accountant’s office, and Vincent Denard, who is now over ninety! After the races were over, the parties began. Both staff and residential students hosted parties in their rooms and RBD French was reputed to give the best staff party. It was the only day in the year when women were allowed into student rooms after 6.00pm.
On Friday there was the Ball which, in 1959, was held in College for the first time. When I was a student, it had been held outside College. There were two venues, the Gresham Hotel and the Metropole Ballroom, both on O’Connell Street and Students had to choose between them.
One final memory. At the New Fellows Dinner, the Provost introduced Bill Wright, referring to his career before he came to College, undergraduate in Glasgow. interrupted by Army service in the Royal Engineers during the war, graduated in Glasgow, PhD in Aberdeen, staff member at the University of Southampton. He then turned to me. I was, he said, ‘A Trinity man, pure and simple’.
My case rests.”
Brian retired from teaching in 2001, after a career commencing in 1956 as a junior lecturer in Chemistry. 1961-2 was spent in Harvard University working for Professor R. B. Woodward on the synthesis of vitamin B12. In 1964, his work at Trinity College Dublin sent him to the University Lagos as Professor of Chemistry, helping establish the department there. The placement was to take several years but the university was disrupted by political unrest, and he returned one year later. He was involved with the Overseas Students Relief Fund which was set up to help Nigerian students in Ireland cut off without funds due to the Biafran War. This was subsumed into the Irish Council for International Students, and Brian remained involved for many years. Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1967, and Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1977. He was awarded an ScD during his career and made a member of the RIA in 1959, acting as Treasurer for several years. He served College as Dean of Graduate Studies 1967-73, was in charge of the Graduate Student Residences in Westland Row and started the Graduate Students' Union (which became the Postgraduate Student Union). He served as Registrar 1989 and was Pro-Vice Provost during a time when his son Nicholas received his own MA, and his wife Sara received an MA jure officio. He continued to come into the School most days following his retirement and was a regular fixture at the 11am coffee break in the Chemistry building until it had to close due to Covid in March 2020.
Speaking at an event to celebrate Brian’s long years of service to the college, then Head of School, Professor Mike Lyons said:
“For many years Brian has been an integral part of the fabric of, not only the School of Chemistry, but of Trinity College itself. He is the epitome of the cultured multifaceted Trinity man who acts, due to his continuing almost daily presence within the School, as an active link between the ‘old’ Trinity of years past and the modern Trinity of rapid change and flux facing the demands and opportunities of the early 21st century”.
That link was immortalised at the last college event that Brian was able to attend in May 2023. A portrait of him, painted by Hungarian artist Zsolt Básti was unveiled in the Senior Common Room and now hangs as a permanent memorial to a man who so enriched the college and its staff and students during his lifetime. He will be very sorely missed by all of us who were blessed to have known him.
R.I.P. Professor Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry, and thank you for all you did.
Athena SWAN Silver Award for the School of Chemistry
The School of Chemistry was delighted to discover last week that our recent application for an Athena SWAN Silver Award had been successful. The school has been a participant in the Athena SWAN programme since 2014, being awarded our first Bronze award in 2015 and retaining it in 2019. In achieving the Silver Award we have become one of the first departments in the college to reach this level alongside the School of Natural Sciences who also achieved their Silver award in this round. Trinity College Dublin is now also only the second university in the country to be awarded a Silver level Institutional Award, joining the University of Limerick who achieved theirs in 2022.
Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) is a charter established and managed by the British Equality Challenge Unit in 2005 that recognises and celebrates good practice towards the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression, and success for all. Information about Athena SWAN can be found here
Speaking about the achievement, Professor Graeme Watson, Head of School of Chemistry & Athena Swan Champion, and Dr Larisa Florea, Associate Professor, Athena Swan Champion said:
“Gaining an Athena Swan silver award is validation of our work and efforts over many years to gain traction and show impact when it comes to equality, in particular gender equality in our School. We are thrilled to receive this important recognition in the form of an Athena Swan silver school award today."
For further informaton about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the school of Chemistry, see here.
Cocker Lab achieves Green Certification
Congratulations to the Cocker lab, and particularly to Marina Kilduff and Peig Brehon on achieving Green Certification (the highest level) under the My Green Lab system.
Recognized by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign as a key measure of progress towards a zero-carbon future, My Green Lab Certification is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world.
The program provides scientists and the teams that support laboratories with actionable ways to make meaningful change. To date, My Green Lab has supported over 1500 labs around the world in a range of sectors.
My Green Lab Certification saves money and preserves resources while ensuring a safe, healthy, and fun environment in support of science.
The green level certification recognises Marina and Peig's outstanding work in reducing the environmental impact of their laboratory space and their successful completion of the My Green Lab Certification Program in June 2023.
The School of Chemistry is very proud of our outstanding technicians and we extend our thanks and congratulations to Marina and Peig for their excellent work!
Excellence in Research Awards for Prof. Mathias Senge and Dr John O'Donoghue
Congratulations to Professor Mathias Senge and Dr John O'Donoghue who were recipients TCD Excellence in Research awards for 2023
Launched in 2020, the Research Excellence Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of researchers and those who support research in Trinity. The awards are aligned to the seven core principles of Trinity’s Research Charter which sets out a vision to engage in research with the quality, intensity, depth, diversity, and openness that leads to fundamental breakthroughs, new understandings, key insights, and that can make translational and transformative advances. A call out to Trinity staff was made in March to nominate colleagues who best embody the spirit of a specific principle.
For more information on the Excellence in Research awards and a list of the 2023 recipients, see here.
Professor Thorri Gunnlaugsson awarded the the ICI David Brown prize
Congratulations to Professor Thorri Gunnlaugsson who has been awarded the ICI David Brown Prize for 2023.
This award was established in 2014 to honour Professor David Brown of University College Dublin in recognition of his enormous contribution to inorganic chemistry both nationally and internationally. It is presented to a chemist who has made an outstanding contribution to inorganic chemistry.
Professor Thorfinnur (Thorri) Gunnlaugsson was born in Iceland, where he received his early education in his home town of Hafnarfjörður, before obtaining a B.Sc. in Chemistry from University of Iceland (UI). During his studies at UI he visited the laboratory of Professor A. P. de Silva at Queen's University of Belfast (Northern Ireland), as a research summer student and became fascinated by the world of supramolecular photochemistry, under the magic supervision of 'A.P.'. After receiving a Ph.D. from Queen's University in 1996, under A.P.'s direction, he joined the research group of Professor David Parker at University of Durham (England) as a postdoctoral fellow. Under the guidance of David the world of coordination chemistry and lanthanide luminescence was explored and the excitement continued!
He was appointed as the Kinerton (IPSEN) Lecturer in Medicinal Organic Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, University of Dublin, Trinity College, in October 1998 and a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry in 2000. He was made a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2003. In October 2004 he was appointed as an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the same department and in 2008 a personal chair and Professor in Chemistry. He was a Visiting Professor at Faculty of Science and Technology- School of Life and Environmental Sciences. Deakin University, Victoria, Australia in 2005. In 2008 he was a visiting Professor in Bordeaux I CNRS in 2008.
Professor Gunnlaugsson delivered his award lecture entitled ‘Tails of two endeavours! The application of lanthanides and Ru(II) in the formation of luminescent supramolecular systems’ during the Inorganic Ireland Symposium 2023 which was held in TCD on Friday, 19th May.
Ireland's Highest Academic Honour for Prof. Michael Lyons
Congratulations to our Head of School, Professor Mike Lyons who was officially admitted to the Royal Irish Academy on Friday 26th May following his election to membership in March.
Speaking about his admittance to the RIA, Professor Lyons said:
‘I am delighted and honoured to be admitted as a new member of the Royal Irish Academy. This achievement is a testament to the significant research done by my PhD students and Post Doc researchers throughout the years. I look forward to engaging fully with the myriad activities of the academy in the coming years.
The support of my colleagues and friends within the School of Chemistry and further afield must also be acknowledged.
I congratulate my fellow Trinity colleagues, and indeed all the other newly admitted MRIAs , on their achievement.’
The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) is an independent, all-island learned society established under Charter in 1785. It has approximately 650 Members, chosen for their distinguished contributions to scholarship and research in the sciences, humanities, social sciences and public service. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.
Speaking at the admittance ceremony, Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said:
‘These individuals, elected by their peers, have made exceptional contributions in their fields of endeavour. We are delighted to recognise their achievements. As Members of the Academy, they will support the RIA by engaging and leading in activities that strengthen the international recognition of the Academy’s scholarship and serve the public good through their knowledge and insight.’
Mike Lyons is Professor in Physical Chemistry, Head of School of Chemistry and a Senior Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. He is a PI in the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), and in the SFI funded AMBER National Centre, Trinity College Dublin. Born in Cork city he was educated in CBC Cork and is a graduate of University College Cork (1979) where he read Chemistry and Mathematical Physics. Professor Lyons obtained his Ph.D degree from the same University in 1983 under the supervision of the late Prof. Declan Burke in metal oxide electrochemistry. He worked with the late Prof. John Albery FRS and Prof. Brian Steele at Imperial College London on metal oxide electro-catalysis before being appointed to a lectureship in Physical Chemistry at Trinity College Dublin in 1984. He was elected to Fellowship, Trinity College Dublin, in 1992 on the basis of publication and research. His research interests encompass Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry and nanomaterials, and in a publication output of two books and more than 170 papers, he has made significant contributions to electrode kinetics, metal oxide electro-catalysis, electroactive polymer electrochemistry, mathematical modelling of electrochemical systems, electrochemical biosensors, and carbon nanotube electrochemistry. In 2021 Prof. Lyons was conferred with the Doctor in Science Degree (ScD) by the University of Dublin on the basis of a corpus of published research and scholarship and was also elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (FICI).He leads the Trinity Physical and Materials Electrochemistry Group, which is currently engaged in developing novel nanomaterials for use as catalysts in water electrolysis and fuel cell devices for use in energy conversion and storage device applications. The group is also developing non enzymatic electrochemical biosensors based on metal oxide modified electrodes for bio-diagnostic applications and for pH sensing and in developing anode materials for metal electro-winning for the mining industry. Prof. Lyons has also lectured extensively in the UK, Europe, the US, Latin America, Pakistan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Lyons was one of six TCD professors admitted to the RIA this year. A list of new members can be found here.
Congrats to EAMC Competition Participants
Congratulations to Aoife Morris and Conor Burke runners up in the 21st National Eurachem Analytical Measurement Competition (EAMC) hosted by TUD Tallaght on Friday 21 April. The EAMC Competition is open to teams of two full-time third-level registered students studying laboratory sciences in Universities or Technological Universities across Ireland and who have not yet entered the third year of their course. The competition tests the students abilities and knowledge in analytical skills and techniques The teams representing the School of Chemistry, TCD were Aoife Morris and Conor Burke and Marina Samarina and Alexandru Stoian.
Eurachem is an association of Professional European Analysts with close links to bodies charged with promoting excellence and reliability in analytical measurement worldwide. It is a reference body for international standards from which industry, governments and others who seek advice on best practice, laboratory accreditation and legal benchmarking. Eurachem (Ireland) consists of members from state bodies, industry and education and conducts workshops and seminars for analysts, educators and managers on topics such as validation, measurement uncertainty and traceability.
Portrait of Prof. Emeritus Brian McMurry unveiled in the Senior Common Room
A portrait of Pofessor Emeritus Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry painted by Hungarian artist Zsolt Básti was unveiled in the Senior Common Room on Tuesday evening May 2nd 2023.
Thomas Brian Hamilton McMurry BA, PhD, DSc., b. 1931
After being awarded Scholarship in 1951, Brian graduated in 1954 with a Gold Medal in Experimental Science, specialising in Chemistry. Three years later, he completed a PhD in the Chemistry of natural products. Subsequently, he became interested in photochemistry and worked on medicinal chemistry when the Medical Research Council unit was taken into the Chemistry Department at Trinity College Dublin. In 1959, Brian was elected to Fellowship, becoming a Senior Fellow by 1982. Among other contributions to, and support for, research and the College community, Brian joined the Trinity Trust in 1962 as Treasurer. He then became an ordinary member of the Executive, and, later, a Trustee, from which he retired in 2019. He was pivotal in establishing a room for graduates on the main campus in what is now known as the Alumni Room. It is in this room at West Chapel that his portrait his set.
Brian retired from teaching in 2001, after a career commencing in 1956 as a junior lecturer in Chemistry. 1961-2 was spent in Harvard University working for Professor R. B. Woodward on the synthesis of vitamin B12. In 1964, his work at Trinity College Dublin sent him to the University Lagos as Professor of Chemistry, helping establish the department there. The placement was to take several years but the university was disrupted by political unrest, and he returned one year later. He was involved with the Overseas Students Relief Fund which was set up to help Nigerian students in Ireland cut off without funds due to the Biafran War. This was subsumed into the Irish Council for International Students, and Brian remained involved for many years. Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1967, and Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1977. He was awarded an ScD during his career and made a member of the RIA in 1959, acting as Treasurer for several years. He served College as Dean of Graduate Studies 1967-73, was in charge of the Graduate Student Residences in Westland Row and started the Graduate Students' Union (which became the Postgraduate Student Union). He served as Registrar 1989 and was Pro-Vice Provost during a time when his son Nicholas received his own MA, and his wife Sara received an MA jure officio.
Zsolt Básti is a Hungarian painter who has been living and practicing in Ireland since 2005. During this time, he has masterfully developed and honed his craft, resulting in a unique and instantly recognisable style that truly captivates his observers. Básti graduated with a BA in Fine Art from the Institution of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dun Laoghaire. He has exhibited recently at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) Annual show, Pallas Projects and the United Arts Club. His paintings have been included in art collections held by the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Anatomy Room, IADT, as well as numerous international and national private collections. He was nominated for The National Gallery of Ireland Zurich Portrait Prize in 2022, and won the De Vere’s Award for work of distinction at the RHA Annual exhibition in the same year. This is the first time his art will feature in the Art Collections of Trinity College Dublin.
Inaugural Lecture of Professor Sylvia Draper
Prof Sylvia Draper delivered her Inaugural Lecture entitled "The Magic of Making Molecules" on Thursday 27th April. See photos from the evening below...
The Faculty of STEM was proud to present the Inaugural Lecture of Professor Sylvia Draper on 27th April 2023 in the McNabb Theatre in Trinity Business School.
The title of Prof Draper's lecture was "The Magic of Making Molecules". A large group of Staff, students and general public turned out to listen to her deliver a very informative, engaging anf entertaining talk.
About Inaugural Lectures
It is the tradition in Trinity College Dublin that newly appointed Professors are invited to give an inaugural lecture. The lecture represents the official recognition of their promotion to Professor, and the lecture itself provides an opportunity to showcase their achievements in research, innovation, engagement and teaching activities before an audience of members of the University community, invited stakeholders and the general public. An Inaugural Lecture is a significant event in an academic staff member's career.
The school of Chemistry is immensely proud of Prof. Draper and all of her achievements to date. We look forward to hearing a lot more from her in the future!
Trinity Monday 2023 - Fellows and Scholars
Congratulations to TR061 Chemical Sciences students Conor Burke, Faye Howlin and Aoife Morris, who were elected to Scholarship on Trinity Monday. Well done to all students who sat the exams and congratulations to all newly elected scholars. It is a great achievement.
For a full list of Fellows and Scholars elected on Trinity Monday 2023, see here
BOC Gases Bursary Awards
The annual postgraduate BOC Gases bursaries were awarded to three PhD students from the School of Chemistry on Friday, January 20th. Students were nominated by their supervisors for consideration for the bursary in Semester 1 and a panel of the school’s academic staff judged the submissions. With great difficulty due to the high standard of submissions, the judges identified three students whose work shone above the rest.Kevin Nolan (Scanlan group) and Aine Coogan (Gun'Ko group) each gave a 15-minute presentation of their work to the school and to BOC Gases representative, Kieran Hennessy who presented them with certificates and their bursaries of €750 and €500 respectively. Michael Craig (Garcia-Melchor group), was the overall winner but was unable to attend the ceremony as he has recently graduated and gone to work abroad (congratulations Michael and best of luck!). He was represented by his father, Chris who received his certificate and €1,250 cheque on his behalf.
Congratulations to all three award recipients and sincere thanks to BOC Gases for their continued support of chemistry research and development!
Sun-Pilot Project led by Prof. Parvaneh Mokarian featured in CORDIS EU
Prof. Parvaneh Mokarian spoke to CORDIS EU
about her Sun-Pilot Project (Subwavelength Nanostructure Pilot) which develops novel anti-reflective nanostructures for the optics and automotive industries, and beyond.
Congratulations Parvaneh!
Partnership for the Future Program funding obtained by Prof. Paula Colavita (TCD) and Dr Suresh Pillai (Atlantic Technological University)
The team formed by Prof. Paula Colavita and Dr Suresh Pillai (Atlantic Technological University) is the recipient of one of the 15 funded teams under the SFI Frontiers for Partnership supporting research in TUs & IoTs.
Dr Suresh Pillai and Prof Paula Colavita will develop low-cost materials that allow commercial hydrogen production from renewable sources. This project is co-funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
Congratulations Paula!
Partnership for the Future Program funding obtained by Prof. Mathias Senge (TCD) & Dr Mikhail Filatov (TUD)
The team formed by Prof. Mathias Senge and Dr Mikhail Filatov (TUD) is the recipient of one of the 15 funded teams under the SFI Frontiers for Partnership supporting research in Technical Universities & Institutes of Technology.
The project 'Dyes with Switchable Intersystem Crossing for Photonics’ has received €900k funding from SFI under the Partnership for the Future Program.
Congratulations Mathias!
2022 SFI Best International Engagement Award for Prof. Mick Morris
Prof. Mick Morris (School of Chemistry and AMBER Director) has been awarded the 2022 SFI Best International Engagement Award in recognition of his long-standing association and engagement with international companies, researchers, and policy makers. More information about the SFI awards can be found here.
Congratulations Mick!
Workshop On "The Chemistry of Cosmetics"
PhD student Áine Coogan from the Gunko Group recently organised a workshop on ‘The Chemistry of Cosmetics’ as part of the C’mere til I tell ye festival that marked Science week in Dublin. This idea started as one of the School of Chemistry Education & Public Engagement projects, and Áine turned it into a great event.
Congratulations Áine!
Prof. Valeria Nicolosi features on the Clarivate annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2022 list.
Prof. Valeria Nicolosi features on the Clarivate annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2022 list. In 2022, less than 7,000, or about 0.1%, of the world's researchers, in 21 research fields, have earned this exclusive distinction. The full list can be found here.
Congratulations Valeria! Amazing achievement!
School of Chemistry November Vivas"
Three viva voces took place within the School during November. Congratulations to Drs (elect) Lorna Doyle (McDonald Group), Claire Condon (Draper Group), and Lukas Hallen (Draper Group).
Many thanks to our external examiners Paul Walton (Univ. of York), Sylvestre Bonnet (Leiden University) and Prof. Edwin Constable (Univ. of Basel) and our internal examiners and chairs (Prof. Larisa Florea, Prof. Graeme Watson, Prof. Colm Delaney, Prof. Yurii Gun’ko and Prof. Aidan McDonald).Class of 2022 Graduation
The remainder of 2022 SS Chemistry students graduated on Thursday November 24th. Congratulations to all and the greatest of success for the future!
Boland Group runners up in SFI Plastics Challenge
The team lead by Prof. John Boland were runners up in the SFI Plastics Challenge. Congratulations to John and his team! Read more about the programme here.
Saying farewell to Teresa McDonnell
On Friday 30th September, we said a fond farewell to Teresa McDonnell as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement! A wine reception was held in the Large Lecture Theatre and she was presented with a College print along with gifts and cards from colleagues.
Teresa’s retirement is a huge loss to the school as she has been with us for the last 30 years! Somewhat of a trailblazer, she was the first woman to hold the position of Chief Technical Officer in the College and she has been a constant source of knowledge, support, kindness, and advice throughout her tenure. She will be sorely missed by all!
Happy Retirement Teresa and thank you for all you have done through the years. Enjoy the extra leisure time and don't forget to stop in and see us for a cuppa occasionally!
Chemistry Workshops at the Ploughing Championships
A team led by Dr. John O’Donoghue represented Chemistry at the National Ploughing Championships. The team included School of Chemistry PhD students Áine Coogan, Lucy Fitzsimmons and Munirah Ghariani (Gunko Group). They made batteries and tested out some hydrogen fuel cells.
Congratulations to all!
School of Chemistry welcomes Prof. Chris Batchelor-McAuley
Chris has been appointed to the position of Assistant Professor in Physical Chemistry. His work spans from fundamental to applied, working on areas including energy conversion, medical sensing and nanochemistry. Prior to moving to Dublin he was a fellow of the Oxford Martin School and worked on the high-throughput detection and quantification of phytoplankton. Welcome Chris! All of your new colleagues are looking forward to working with you!
Outreach Workshops at Dublin Maker
Natalia Garcia Domenech, Chemistry Education Postdoc and School’s engagement coordinator, together with PhD students Áine Coogan (Gunko Group) and Karlijn Hertsig (Dunne Group) are running workshops at Dublin Maker.
Call into Merrion Sq to make batteries & take home a pack to try it yourself. What a great event.
Congratulations to the team!