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I’m originally from Donegal, but moved to Dublin five years ago to begin my studies in Trinity with a Natural Sciences degree. During my degree I studies Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, and decided to specialise in the latter for my sophister years since I’ve always adored Chemistry and felt that a career in research, and more specifically academia, was for me. I have wide ranging scientific interests including archeochemistry, physical and inorganic chemistry. I love supramolecular, photophysical, organic and medicinal chemistry. In 2001, I was elected a Scholar of Trinity College, Dublin. This is a great, time-honoured privilege and involves many wonderful advantages including rooms on campus, free fees, dining at Commons, receiving a Scholar’s salary and becoming a member of a special community with pecks and responsibilities. I feel so fortunate to be able to enjoy this aspect of Trinity’s history and life. I was awarded a Health Research Board Summer Research Scholarship in 2002 and conducted a project in the Gunnlaugsson group based on novel anti-cancer agents. Dr. Gunnlaugsson invited me back to the lab for my senior sophister research project during which I worked on the development of new MRI contrast agents based on lanthanide complexes. I really enjoyed both opportunities to work with a group of very talented chemists and feel that my laboratory experiences as an undergraduate have enriched my postgraduate work endlessly. I graduated in November 2003 with First Class Honours. Last autumn I was awarded a prestigious IRCSET Postgraduate Research Scholarship and began my PhD research in the Gunnlaugsson group. My work is concerned with the design and development of large anti-cancer architectures, which ultimately it is hoped will specifically target Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and prostate cancers. In 2004, I was nominated as the president of Trinity’s Werner Chemistry society, which organises educational, social and recreational activities and events for the undergraduate community, postgraduate students and the whole department. My passions in life include my family, my friends, literature, cinema, history, art, music, theatre, dancing, shopping, shoes, clothes, long walks and travel. |
