Biomedical Device Materials - MSc Graduate profile
Key information
There are in excess of 250 medical technology companies in Ireland, exporting €7.9bn worth of product annually, making Ireland the second largest exporter of med tech devices in Europe and employing 25,000 people. Future forecasts by the IDA for the industry have identified the need for Materials related expertise in regenerative medicine and bioprocessing, The Irish Medical Devices Association states that “The medical technology industry in Ireland is changing from being predominantly manufacturing to being more complex and driven by R&D” and this new M. Sc. programme is designed to empower individuals to create, and participate in, such change.
I am currently a Ph.D. student concentrating in the field of nanomaterials under the joint supervision of Prof. Kevin Ryan and Prof. Ursel Bangert. I obtained my MSc degree in Applied Physics at the University of Limerick in 2019, under the guidance of Prof. Ursel Bangert who is now a co-supervisor in my current research area. At UL you are given a potential research topic that matches your background and experience while having the freedom to develop your own research area of interest. My Science Foundation Ireland Funded research focuses on the investigative study of nanocrystal structure, interface, nucleation and growth mechanisms in these materials using aberration-corrected electron microscopy (EM) and In situ EM techniques.
Working with both the Nanotechnology and TEMUL group at the Bernal Institute has been a great experience with ample opportunity to engage in multiple research areas and collaborations. I have obtained training in techniques such as the use of State of the art microscopes and other high technology characterization tools. This has been invaluable to my career development.
My journey so far has been exciting, from presenting my work at conferences to interacting, networking and exchanging research ideas with other Ph.D. students and experts from around the world. I now also have first-hand experience with teaching and leadership through laboratory demonstrations and these experiences have greatly improved my personal development towards being an independent researcher."
